Chapter 61.4- Gamer of the Desert

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“My Fellow Kage,

I am Gaara of the Desert, Fifth Kazekage of the Village Hidden in the Sands. I have been many things to all of you, an ally, an enemy, a pest, a destroyer, a saviour, a protector. A million things and one, and often at the same time, as well. We have had our differences, and I cannot deny that I have caused a good portion of them. Today I do not write to you as a would-be conqueror like I once would have, but as a liberator. The one under whose yolk we all suffered, Kabuto Yakushi, is now dead, and at mine own hand. The village hidden in the rain, and the land of rain which he had once administered as personal fief is now declared a protectorate of the Village Hidden in the Sands.

We are shinobi. I know that as you read this now, there are thoughts forming in your head. Thoughts of war, conquest, and maybe even revenge against me for the past wrongs that I have done each and every one of you. Maybe you even think of reclaiming the tailed beasts that now rest under my protection. But there is only one thing I can assure you off. If you break this peace that now exists between us, I will grind your village to the ground. I no longer seek to conquer all that is under the sun, but that position can change if I am stirred enough.

To prevent that, I advise that each and every one of you takes their freedom with both hands and uses it to better the lives of their people. If you must wage war, then do so amongst yourselves, for my involvement will only lead to death and suffering for whoever is foolish enough to court it.

But on the other hand, we can move past our violent and warring nations. Kabuto Yakushi, for all his faults, has shown us the way to a brighter, more profitable, and more prosperous future for each and every one of us. We can continue to pursue the framework of cooperation which he has laid down for us and move forward in lockstep, together.

Your choice.

Signed,

Gaara of the Desert.”

A/N; And that brings an end to this story. Phew. That was a thing. This was everything to me for such a long time, and I love this story so very much. Thank you for reading, thank you for subscribing, thank you for your criticism, and praise, and love. This was not a perfect story. I am well aware of that fact. But thank you for enjoying it either way, with all its flaws, and plot holes, and terribly written bits or terribly executed plot points. 61 chapters. You’ve read 61 chapters of my writing. Thank you. I keep saying thank you because I am just so grateful about this. About you. About everything. Thank you. The fact that this story has come to an end now means that there is a hole in my rotation of about three stories that I update regularly. I will be filling that hole, but not with another Naruto story. If you want to have that particular itch scratched, then you could always read “One Thousand Hands”. Nay, the next thing I will be writing will be a Harry Potter fanfic. I have some ideas in my head that I keep cycling around, but I should have something concrete up in the next few days.

Thank you once again.