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Chocoholic202: Here's the next chapter!

Wowza: Thank you so much! I am glad to hear that you enjoyed this idea so much! Harry/Obito will absolutely dot on Naruto and Kakashi is gonna need some luck. Hari is definitely gonna change the world! Thank you so much for your comment!

animecutylover: Glad you like it! Mokuton but gonna help the world and not destroy haha

.07: Yay! I am happy you like it! Thanks so much!

Yashamaru could only watch in despair as Gaara stared blankly at the world as he walked. Distrust chased the child as his own father sent ANBU members after his own son. It was only occasional, but Gaara's guard was always up. They were all slaughtered.

Too dangerous. A failed experiment.

Yashamaru hated his brother-in-law. Gaara was just a child who wanted to understand pain and love. Rasa blamed Gaara for his wife's death, but it was his own actions and choices that led to that. He wanted to make a great weapon to strengthen their military power.

He was too greedy. Rasa sought for gold, but it only turned to dust, slipping through his fingers.

Gaara didn't have anyone in the world anymore. And sadly, that would be unlikely to change for a long time.

Regrets. It was the very thing that was preventing him from moving on. The only thing he looked forward to on his suicide mission was at least reuniting with his sister and his loved ones. Yet, he could not leave. Not yet. It wasn't right when it was Gaara against the world and Yashamaru could leave him for a second time.

Regrets were a funny thing.

Yashamaru wanted to hug his nephew one last time. He wanted to tell him how much his mother, Yashamaru's beloved sister, loved her son. He wanted to tell him that he was ordered to lie by Rasa and that Yashamaru loved him more than anyone else. Gaara was family and nothing could change that.

But life was cruel. They were the people of the desert. They were sturdy and thrived despite little. They could overcome obstacles when others could not. They understood how the desert was both kind and cruel to them.

Yashamaru couldn't be there for Gaara anymore and he needed to be able to weather any hatred and cruelty, because the world would never be kind.

It rarely was for shinobi, but misfortune seemed to follow his nephew everywhere.

As civilians fled away from Gaara and chaos filled the village, Yashamaru noticed one brown haired outsider. He was not running away, despite people harshly telling him to flee. He looked at Gaara with a face that Yashamaru could not puzzle out.

He has seen many people and killed many more. Even after death, his training was engraved into his soul. Despite feeling no chakra presence, he could still tell. This man… was dangerous.

And yet. And yet-

They made eye contact.

The man's brown eyes flickered emerald green, if only for a moment.

At that moment, Yashamaru understood. It was as if something clicked into his brain. It was a title he never heard of, but knew he must obey.

That man was the Master of Death.

He should not have been hopeful. He has seen too many horrors and felt the crushing weight of reality on his shoulders. He's lost too many people he has cared about when thinking of hopeful what-ifs. Such possibilities are too cruel to ponder.

And yet, he could not stop the swelling feeling in his chest. Maybe. Just maybe.

~OoOo~

"You're a fucking idiot," the man, Hari as he learned, scoffed loudly. "If you are going to blindly follow orders like that, of course this would happen. You should think for yourself first, especially if you love your nephew. You basically broke him."

Yashamaru couldn't even defend himself. He was just… tired. So, so tired.

He wanted to see his sister again, but he could not move on. He could only watch in horror as his actions tore his own nephew apart.

The man sighed, ruffling his hair in frustration. "Just because you have orders doesn't mean you should blindly carry them out. People who fail their missions are trash, but those who obediently follow missions to hurt their own family, especially children, are worse than trash. They are fucking scum!"

Yashamaru didn't flinch. Instead, it felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. For so long, he thought such things, but he had expectations as both a shinobi and Rasa's right-hand man. Such feelings had to be disregarded.

With this man voicing those thoughts he shut away a long time ago, Yashamaru knew made the right decision to confide in this man. He should have been hesitant to reveal such top-secret information, but he wanted to make it right for Gaara's sake. It was the least he could do.

Hari closed his eyes and sighed. His brown eyes flickered to a pair of emerald green and black, before flickering back. Yashamaru was surprised. Weren't they both green earlier? However, he did not show it.

"What do you exactly want me to do?" Hari asked seriously. He crossed his arms as a cloak fluttered behind him, before blinking out of existence.

Shinobi hopped around them completely unaware.

Yashamaru wasn't sure what to say. He wanted Gaara to have a friend. He wanted Gaara to have a family. He wanted Gaara to be strong for the sake of the village and himself. He wanted to convey his regrets. He wanted to yell and scream at Rasa for being an absolute idiot.

In the end, he couldn't say anything. He was silent.

Hari sighed. "How do I keep getting into these messes?" He mumbled to himself. He looked at Yashamaru.

Those eyes felt like they were picking him apart and examining him, as if judging if he could be useful or was absolute trash. They were old and powerful.

They were unknown. They were frightening.

Yashamaru thought he understood how the world worked, yet this man walked, breaking all the laws of the worlds he thought he understood. Something dangerous and unknown meant something to be cautious of and often destroyed. Yashamaru knew he was only scratching the surface of the mysteries behind this man.

He was scared, but he placed his trust in this man. He had to, for Karura's sake. For Gaara's sake.

"I am taking Gaara out of the village. He is both a danger here and to himself," Hari stated quietly. It wasn't a question of permission. He already made up his mind.

Yashamaru understood it. There were many times he wanted to grab Gaara and run before his assassination mission.

Yet, he couldn't help but fear for his home that he and his sister loved.

They lost many wars and could not take any more cripples in strength. They were already starving and struggling to survive.

Hari, as if reading his mind, sighed tiredly. He waved his hand towards his village. "Gaara can come back, but if he remains here, the situation will only become worse. I have a plan to fix him. I promise you that I will do anything to make him happy. I will not let Sunagakure fall either and will protect it myself if I have to. It's a promise. I refuse to break my promises." His eyes burned with conviction.

He already trusted this man with his story and many secrets. He could only trust that he will carry through with his words.

He felt lighter. He can see Karura now.

"Thank you," Yashamaru said softly with a watery smile.

"May you rest in peace. Death is the next great adventure," Hari said softly, bowing his head in respect as Yashamaru's spirit disintegrated before his eyes.

He left the world with no more regrets.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LOVELY COMMENTS!

Thanks for all the support and kind words! I am surprised people liked this haha. It was just me being very self-indulgent, so I was stunned. All your comments and favs/follows made me absolutely giddy. Thank you so much!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Let me know what you all think!