Returning to the Land of Wind, Li Xing found that Karin and Yugito were still sealing the Tailed Beasts. He quickly set up a barrier and left. Three days were enough to fulfill Karura's dream once.
He arrived at Sunagakure again. Li Xing, for the first time in a long time, wore the blue haori of the Shinsengumi. He changed his appearance casually. This time, he wasn't here to fight; sneaking in was a better option.
"Summoning, Edo Tensei!"
A coffin rose from the ground in front of Li Xing. The coffin slowly vanished, and Karura's figure reappeared before him.
"Where is this? Sunagakure! Thank you, Mr. Li Xing." Karura woke up, initially confused, but she quickly realized where she was – the village where she had lived before. Li Xing had promised to fulfill her request.
"You were the wife of the Fourth Kazekage. Most people here have seen you, so you'll need to change your appearance to avoid unnecessary trouble. For now, your name is Rouru, and I am your younger brother, Luoxing."
Li Xing stepped forward and gently pinched Karura's face. In the blink of an eye, Karura had transformed into the appearance of another woman.
"Thank you, thank you, I promise I won't expose myself!"
"That's for the best. Let's enter the village, sister."
Upon entering Sunagakure, Karura acted like a child, looking around everywhere. She visited stalls selling clothes and food, and Li Xing paid for everything.
"Hey, weren't you supposed to see your children? What are you doing just playing and eating here? Aren't you tired of this stuff?" Li Xing felt like a fool. He shouldn't have agreed to such a troublesome task.
"Aren't we just here for tourism? Which tourist doesn't buy souvenirs? This is the only way to avoid exposing our identities. Besides, as you said, Gaara is already the Kazekage, so it's not like we can just meet him whenever we want, right?"
Karura's words were all perfectly reasonable, leaving Li Xing with no choice but to let her have her fun. He wasn't short on money anyway.
...
As evening approached, Karura and Li Xing stood at a vantage point. Karura was describing the architecture of Sunagakure to Li Xing, but he wasn't paying much attention. A place without hot springs held no interest for him.
"Hey! What are you two doing here? It's dangerous."
Just as Karura was enthusiastically explaining, a deep voice came from behind them. Karura froze for a moment. She could sense that it was Gaara's voice.
"Ah, excuse me. My sister and I are tourists visiting Sunagakure. My sister really likes your village and has some understanding of it, and she's currently introducing me to the village." Li Xing turned around, pretending not to know Gaara, and greeted him with a smiling face.
"Is that so? Then it's best not to stand too high up. The wind is strong at night, and it's dangerous." Gaara gave them a kind reminder and was about to turn and leave.
Seeing that Karura was stunned and hadn't reacted for a long time, Li Xing quickly stepped forward to stop Gaara.
"Thank you for the reminder. If you don't mind, how about we have dinner together? I am Luoxing, and my sister is Rouru."
"Yes... Ah, let's have dinner together..." Seeing Gaara about to leave, Karura finally reacted and stammered an invitation to Gaara.
Gaara had intended to refuse, but when he saw Karura turn towards him, he felt an urge to rush forward and embrace her. Then, as if compelled by an unseen force, he agreed.
...
In a private room at a restaurant, Li Xing, Karura, and Gaara sat around a table laden with food, but no one had touched their chopsticks.
Li Xing wanted to give the two of them more time to talk, but Karura was too engrossed in staring at Gaara's face. Gaara, with his naturally reserved personality, had no idea how to carry on a conversation.
"Sister, did you buy my gift earlier? You didn't forget it's my birthday today, did you? I've already asked the restaurant to prepare a birthday cake!" Seeing that both of them were silent, Li Xing broke the ice, signaling Karura with his eyes.
Karura understood Li Xing's intention immediately. Later, she would use Li Xing's birthday as an excuse to celebrate Gaara's birthday, even though it wasn't actually Gaara's birthday.
"Ah, yes, yes! How could I forget my little brother's birthday? Here, this is the outfit I bought for you. Little brother, I'll get one for you too. We'll have cake later."
Saying that, Karura took out the clothes she had bought that day. She compared them to Gaara's build and found they fit perfectly. It turned out that Karura had deliberately bought so many things today, guessing Gaara's size and buying extra to ensure the right fit.
Li Xing felt a twinge of envy. "Is this mother's love? It would be even more moving if it wasn't my money being spent."
Gaara wanted to refuse Karura's kindness, but for some reason, he couldn't. His body moved against his will as he accepted the clothes.
"Thank you. And my name is Gaara."
The clothes Karura bought for Gaara were red. After Gaara took the clothes, Karura insisted that he put them on. Unable to refuse his mother, Gaara changed into the outfit she had given him.
"You look so handsome, Gaara! I wish you could wear this outfit forever!" Karura gently stroked Gaara's face, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Here you go! The cake is here! Sister, don't cry. Today's cake will surely be delicious!" Li Xing went to the kitchen to get the cake. Of course, he had made it on the spot, as it was a plan he had come up with at the last minute.
"Yes, alright. Come, Luoxing, make a wish! This is a rare opportunity. Gaara, you make a wish too!" Karura wiped away her tears, pulled Gaara to the cake, and asked him to close his eyes and make a wish.
"No, it's not my birthday today..." Gaara didn't want to ruin Li Xing's birthday and quickly tried to refuse. However, Karura's firm demeanor instilled a hint of fear in Gaara, and he reluctantly agreed again.
Li Xing thoughtfully gave up the center spot to Gaara and stood to the side. However, Karura pulled Li Xing over as well.
"Phew!"
After making their wishes, Gaara and Li Xing blew out the candles together. Karura immediately rushed to Gaara's side.
"Gaara, what did you wish for? Can you tell me?"
"Sister, wishes don't come true if you speak them!" Li Xing quickly stopped Gaara, who was about to speak.
"Oh, right, right. Then let's eat cake!"
Karura began to cut the cake and served it to Gaara and Li Xing. Li Xing never refused food, so he took it with both hands and began to eat.
And so, Gaara celebrated his birthday without knowing it, in the company of his mother.
After they had eaten their fill, Li Xing suggested taking a group photo as a memento. Although Karura's appearance had changed, she desperately wanted to leave behind a trace of her presence beside Gaara. She led Gaara to the front of the Kazekage's office for a photograph.
"Gaara, where did you go? We've been looking for you everywhere. It's time for dinner. Huh? And who are these two?" Temari suddenly ran out from the Kazekage's office, looking for Gaara to eat dinner. Kankuro was following behind her.
"You must be Gaara's siblings, right? Come, let's take a photo together! After the photo, my sister will give you gifts too!"
Everything was going according to plan. He had specifically brought them to the Kazekage's office to draw out Temari and Kankuro, so that Karura's three children could take a photo together.
After Gaara persuaded them, Temari and Kankuro agreed to the photo. Li Xing had intended to take the picture, but Karura pulled him into the frame as well. The camera was then controlled by Gaara's sand.
"Say cheese!"
As the shutter clicked, Li Xing quickly retrieved the camera. Now, he would let Karura and her children talk amongst themselves.
Perhaps sensing that it was time to part, Karura took out all the items she had bought that day and gave them to her three children. As she handed out the gifts, she gave each of them many words of advice, making all three of them feel as if they were being seen off by their mother before a journey.
Finally, she approached Li Xing and presented him with a scarf. "Mr. Li Xing, thank you. This is for you. You miss your own mother dearly, don't you? I can see it in your eyes. Don't underestimate a mother's love! Although I'm not qualified to replace your mother, I celebrated your birthday with you today. Consider this my gratitude!"
Then, Karura walked towards Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, giving each of them a hug. When she hugged Gaara, she whispered in his ear, "I'm sorry I couldn't be with you as you grew up and brought such sorrow to your childhood. Mom will always love you! Gaara!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Karura's body began to emit a bright white light. Li Xing knew this was the sign that the Edo Tensei was about to be released.
"I see. When one touches their deepest emotions, those brought back by Edo Tensei, having no regrets, release themselves and return to the Pure Land."
Gaara was bewildered. What was happening? The moment Karura's soul ascended, her true appearance was revealed. Temari and Kankuro couldn't help but cry out.
"Mom?"
Li Xing knew it was time for him to leave as well. He carefully put away the scarf and slowly ascended into the sky. However, Gaara pursued him, riding on a wave of sand.
"What exactly is going on? Who are you people?"
"It's nothing. This woman was your mother, Karura. I merely came to fulfill her last wish. Your mother loved you dearly. The absolute defense within you is the will of your mother, Karura, which has been protecting you all along. Lord Kazekage, I hope you no longer believe your mother hated you. Mother's love is truly great! Hahahaha!"
After speaking, Li Xing threw down three photographs and disappeared into the sky above Sunagakure. Hearing Li Xing's words, Gaara was stunned, tears streaming down his face. His mother had been by his side all along.
Returning to the ground, Gaara picked up the three photographs and was surprised. At the moment the photos were taken, Karura's face was in its original form, and Li Xing's appearance had also reverted.
"This woman is Mom... Thank you!"
Kankuro and Temari each took a photo. Kankuro immediately recognized Li Xing in his photo, while Temari focused on Karura's appearance. What they had just witnessed was truly astonishing.
...