The Avatar

It had been four years since Gaara had left Sunagakure.

"That's a long time," he mused, "and yet, it feels like nothing has changed."

"So, where are we going?" the chakra clone asked.

"West," the senjutsu clone replied curtly.

"West? What lies there?"

"Konoha."

"Konoha? Hmm… is there a reason we're heading there?"

"For a clone, you sure talk a lot," the senjutsu clone replied dryly.

"Aish, don't belittle me! I'm practically you!" the chakra clone retorted.

"Well, if you must know, we're headed there because I need to find someone," the Senjutsu clone finally admitted.

---

The journey continued well into the night, with the chakra clone gradually showing signs of strain.

The mental toll and stamina drain from their prolonged travel weren't overwhelming individually, but they piled up over time.

While they avoided conventional travel methods, the chakra clone creatively manipulated sand beneath their feet to summon small tidal waves, which carried them for short distances before dissipating.

It wasn't perfect, but it worked.

A week later, they reached Konoha's border.

Both clones instinctively heightened their caution.

Konoha was renowned for its tight security and formidable shinobi.

Though its mortality rate was low compared to less organized villages and hostile nations, it was considered an intimidating fortress teeming with talent from successive generations.

Standing at the edge of the village's lush forests, the clones abandoned any pretense of a careless approach.

A transformation jutsu was performed, though it was minimal, merely changing their hair color.

It was surprising how much a small change like that could obscure one's identity.

Casually entering Konoha's borders, both Gaara clones remained on high alert.

They were confident they'd be detected the moment they let their guard down, if they hadn't already been noticed.

For now, they were thankful they were only clones.

The original Gaara had no intention of stepping foot in Konoha himself.

There were too many reasons to avoid the village.

Chief among them was the simple fact that nearly everyone here was either a direct or indirect enemy.

---

Within the confines of Konoha's lush forests, the clones kept moving.

Since no one had intercepted them so far, they decided to press on quickly toward the main village.

With that, they broke into the iconic ninja run, weaving through trees and leaving minimal traces.

While seemingly ineffective, the ninja run served its purpose.

As they moved, the clones discreetly planted seals and subtle traps, precautions meant to alert them of potential dangers or create distractions when needed.

The chakra clone, however, struggled to keep his enthusiasm in check.

He seemed far too excited to stay focused.

As they moved, he began experimenting with jutsu, recklessly throwing techniques at random.

None of them landed perfectly, and it was clear he lacked proficiency.

Gaara's substantial chakra reserves were both a blessing and a curse.

While they allowed for powerful techniques, the lack of precision and control meant the chakra clone was more prone to mistakes.

For the original Gaara, this was a recurring challenge, his inability to compete with shinobi who specialized in elemental jutsu outside of his domain.

But for the chakra clone, this trip was an opportunity.

As they neared Konoha's heart, his excitement grew. "Who better to teach me about elemental affinities than the shinobi of Konoha?"

Gaara's elemental affinities—wind, lightning, and sand (or earth, depending on interpretation) were powerful but underdeveloped.

And the chakra clone was determined to find ways to refine them.