During her time in Hidden Sand Village, Chizhao had become generally familiar with the Village's layout, and the villagers had grown accustomed to the girl who often wandered around the Village.
However, these trivial matters did not occupy the villagers' minds; they were more concerned about the rumors of a desert demon that had been circulating among the children recently.
No matter whose child it was, they were either crying about their snacks being stolen or claiming to have been attacked.
This made the parents extremely anxious, but when the adults inquired carefully, the answers they received surprised them.
It turned out that the desert demons who had bullied them had all been driven away, and the little hero who saved them was the Ichibi Jinchuriki—Gaara.
Inside a park, two children were playing happily.
One boy was chasing a girl, who held a cute stuffed bear and ran merrily ahead.
Suddenly, the girl seemed to trip over something and fell onto the soft sand, her stuffed bear rolling away.
A figure draped in white cloth and wearing a terrifying mask suddenly appeared in front of the girl.
Both the girl and the boy screamed in terror, "desert demon?!"
The boy was so scared he didn't know what to do, quickly helped the girl up, and retreated, saying in a trembling voice, "Don't eat me and my sister."
The desert demon laughed deeply, "I love the flesh and blood of children the most! Don't run!"
The two children cried loudly, running wildly in the park. The louder they cried, the more excited the demon behind them became.
Eventually, the two children were cornered against a wall, where they huddled together, trembling, praying for someone to save them.
"Stop!"
A tender yet firm voice came from behind the desert demon.
With tear-streaked faces, the two looked forward to see a red-haired child, indignantly pointing at the desert demon, radiating a light of justice.
"Let go of those two children!"
"You... are you the famous Lord Gaara?!"
The desert demon reacted as if facing a formidable enemy, quickly clutching its head and scurrying away.
"Don't think of escaping!"
Gaara manipulated the sand to tightly surround the demon, and a dramatic scream was heard, the sand scattered, and the figure of the desert demon seemed to vanish as if carried away by the wind.
Gaara picked up the stuffed bear from the ground and kindly handed it to the siblings: "Are you two alright?"
On the other side, on an inconspicuous step, Chizhao, having removed her mask and platform boots, happily looked at the tempered films in her hand. After bullying children and doing many so-called bad deeds these past few days, she finally got two.
"Little Wang, Little Wang."
"I'm here."
"What's my progress now?"
"Good deeds progress +7, bad deeds progress +0."
Her bad deeds progress had already been reset twice, and this was the third round. Her good deeds progress was also very fast; it seemed she needed to pay more attention to recent good people and good deeds, trying to use good deeds at necessary moments.
"I'm back!"
A familiar voice sounded from behind. Chizhao quickly hid the tempered films in her clothes, moved her butt, and made space for Gaara.
Gaara naturally sat beside her, frowning, as if he had something to say.
"What's wrong? You look so unhappy. Did those two bully you?"
"No. After I returned their things, they were very happy and thanked me before leaving."
"Then why..." Chizhao was a little confused.
"Can we please not scare other children anymore?"
Looking at Gaara, who had a pitiful expression, she hesitated for a moment: "Don't you want to be friends with them anymore?"
Gaara shook his head, then nodded, thought for a while, and then shook his head again.
Chizhao was dumbfounded: "What does that mean? Shaking your head and then nodding."
"At first, I really wanted everyone to accept me, but later I realized that as long as I have Chizhao by my side, it's enough. Having Chizhao as my friend already makes me very happy!"
Chizhao looked at Gaara, whose eyes were full of tenderness, and her heart skipped a beat.
This idea of bullying children was indeed hers. She thought that while bullying children and doing some bad deeds to earn tempered films, she could also have Gaara cooperate in acting to promote his righteous image, lest the villagers continue to treat him as a monster. She considered it killing two birds with one stone, a perfect card-swiping plan.
But hearing Gaara's words, and remembering the children she had scared into crying these past few days, the guilt that had been well suppressed now resurfaced.
"Chizhao?"
Gaara saw Chizhao staring blankly ahead, silent, and thought she was unhappy, her heart began to panic.
"I'm sorry, Chizhao... We..."
"I think Gaara is right!" Chizhao suddenly stood up, interrupting him, "We shouldn't bully children for our own selfish desires!"
Gaara was stunned: Is that what I meant?
"From today onwards, the desert demon has been completely driven out of Sunagakure by Gaara!"
Watching the girl stand on the steps and announce loudly, her eyes were crescent-shaped, her smile radiant, like the gentle and warm sun in winter, illuminating a dark corner in his heart, making it soft and warm.
He covered his heart with his hand; it wasn't pain, but an indescribable joy.
Yashamaru, what is this again?
Chizhao hid the mask in her clothes, took Gaara's small hand, and walked towards the bustling marketplace.
"I almost forgot to buy some things for grandma; we're having curry rice tonight!"
She turned to Gaara, whose face was flushed, and invited him: "Why don't you have dinner at our house tonight!"
Gaara stopped, his mood suddenly a little low. Feeling his hand behind him loosen, Chizhao also stopped.
"...I still shouldn't go..."
Chizhao naturally understood why Gaara was suddenly like this.
She sighed, rubbing her forehead, then forcefully took his hand again, walking forward, her tone firm and unquestionable.
"You must go! Because I invited you, no refusing."
Eventually, Gaara succumbed to Chizhao's strong offensive, obediently following behind, his gaze occasionally lingering on their clasped small hands, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curving into a smile.
His heart felt a tingling numbness, but he really liked this feeling.
After these few days of "effort," Gaara's righteous image gradually spread among the children, and from time to time, he would even encounter a few who actively greeted him.
This made Gaara flattered, and he was a little unaccustomed to it at first, shyly greeting them, and then quietly shrinking behind Chizhao.
Looking at Gaara like this, Chizhao found it difficult to associate him with the cool and powerful young man.
But this was his true self, kind and lovable, wanting to be recognized by those around him. However, no matter what he became, he was still Gaara, the future Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure.
And Chizhao, perhaps with this connection, could even become a high-ranking official.
Looking at Chizhao, who was giggling to herself, Gaara tilted his head in confusion: "What are you thinking, Chizhao?"
"Ah? *Cough*... Nothing, come on, let's go buy potatoes."