A Strange New Life || Isekai'd Reader To Naruto World

The Weight of Knowing

(Y/n)'s POV

We were finally on the move again. Our brief rest had done us some good, but my mind was far from at ease. As we traveled, I kept my breathing steady, but inside, my thoughts raced wildly.

Gaara… He’s already…

I clenched my fists. I knew what was waiting for us at the end of this road. Gaara wasn’t just unconscious. The moment the Akatsuki finished their extraction, he…

No. I can't break down. Not now.

The others didn’t know. To them, there was still hope. And I had to act like I believed it too.

As we moved through the terrain, Neji suddenly spoke up.

“There’s no one in our vicinity,” he noted, his voice calm but sharp. “That means our enemies are confident that we’ve been successfully delayed.”

I swallowed. He was right. They had already accomplished their goal.

Kakashi, Granny Chiyo, and even Neji seemed to realize it too. But none of them knew the truth the way I did.

Ahead of us, Naruto’s frustration started to bubble over. His chakra flared, whiskers darkening, his once-bright blue eyes flickering red. The Nine-Tails' influence leaked out, amplifying his raw emotions.

Granny Chiyo, clearly surprised by his reaction, turned to Kakashi.

“Why is he so determined to save Gaara?” she asked. “They’re not even from the same village.”

Kakashi’s response was steady, but heavy with meaning.

“Naruto is a jinchūriki too,” he revealed. “He understands Gaara’s pain better than anyone.”

Granny Chiyo listened in silence as Kakashi explained everything—Naruto’s burden, the loneliness he had suffered, the way jinchūriki were treated no matter where they came from.

I knew all of this already, but hearing it again made my chest ache.

Granny Chiyo exhaled. “I thought I understood how the world worked at my age… that people only looked out for themselves. But maybe… I was wrong.”

She hesitated before adding, “I was the one who sealed Shukaku inside Gaara, with the permission of the Fourth Kazekage.”

I stiffened at that.

Of course. I had always known Granny Chiyo played a role in Gaara’s suffering, but seeing her regret now… It didn’t erase the past, but it meant she was willing to change.

My heart was heavy, but there was no time to process it further.

We finally arrived at the Akatsuki’s hideout.

Lee was about to charge in, but Gai-sensei quickly stopped him, pointing to the Five-Seal Barrier that protected the entrance.

Naruto barely reacted to the small reunion, too tense and on edge to acknowledge Lee properly. His desperation was growing.

And mine…

I could feel it pressing against my ribs, clawing at my insides.

I took a slow breath, trying to remain composed, but Neji noticed.

“(Y/n),” he murmured, stepping closer to me. His lavender eyes studied my face, and I knew I wasn’t hiding it as well as I thought.

“Everything will be okay,” Tenten reassured me, her hand resting briefly on my shoulder.

Lee, ever optimistic, grinned. “Yes! We will save Gaara!”

Their words were kind. They didn’t know how much I needed to hear them, even if I couldn’t fully believe them.