As Gaara continues to reminisce about Yashamaru, he remembers Yashamaru’s defeat and attempted suicide bombing. While Gaara was able to survive the blast, he lost the only person who ever cared for him. From that point on, Gaara came to love only himself and starting living off of killing others. Returning to the present, Gaara restrains Sakura with a claw made of sand and slowly squeezes her. Determined to save Sasuke and Sakura at all costs, Naruto engages Gaara.