Chapter 11: Ruins of Gelel

Cloaked in pristine white ceremonial robes, Sakura stirred in a dimly lit room, her senses slowly returning to her. She gingerly pushed herself to a sitting position, wincing from the residual pain of the blast that had rocked the beach. As her eyes adjusted to the subdued light, she was surrounded by water, with no more than an inch covering the cold, hard floor.

Surveying her surroundings, Sakura noticed a vast moat encircling a towering pyramid constructed entirely of sand. Gathering her strength, she carefully rose to her feet, her body aching from the ordeal. In the oppressive darkness, she inched toward the moat, her progress marked by stone bridges designed for human passage.

Upon reaching the moat's edge, she extended a hand to touch the massive structure of sand before her, her fingers causing some of it to crumble and create an opening into the pyramid. She ventured inside, traversing a long, narrow corridor that seemed to stretch into infinity. With each step, her heartbeat quickened, a sense of foreboding building within her.

Finally, Sakura emerged into a pitch-black chamber, its oppressive silence broken only by the steady, resonant breathing of a colossal beast that sat before her, unchained and undisturbed. As she strained her eyes to discern the creature's features, she whispered in disbelief, "Shukaku... but how is this possible?"

Shukaku, a massive tanuki with a sandy-brown complexion, bore black cursed seal markings that adorned its face, body, and tail. Its gaping, concave mouth revealed no sign of a tongue, and its eyes had jet-black sclerae with irides gleaming in a vivid yellow shade. Each pupil was shaped like a four-pointed star, surrounded by four smaller black dots, an enigmatic and imposing presence in the heart of the pyramid.

Sakura's mind swirled with confusion as she grappled with the inexplicable sight before her. Her last memory of Shukaku was terrifying, of being hurled off the rooftop of a Sunagakure building by the colossal tanuki. Now, standing in the eerie chamber with the massive creature before her, she couldn't fathom why she could see him once more.

Shukaku, towering over her, seemed to emanate an unrestrained power. Its enormous form loomed, a dark silhouette against the dimly lit surroundings. Suddenly, as if unleashing a primal force from within, it parted its massive jaws, exposing its terrifying void. It let out an otherworldly howl that reverberated through the chamber, sending shivers down Sakura's spine. 

Sakura's eyes shot open, and she gasped, abruptly returning to reality. She found herself lying in a fetal position inside the Black Ant puppet, disoriented and bewildered. In the distance, she could hear muffled voices, and then, suddenly, the belly of the puppet creaked open, allowing the early morning light to stream in before dawn.

Kankuro gently pulled her out and carefully laid her on the ground. Kankuro and Gaara knelt on either side of her, concern etched on their faces. Maintaining his characteristic composure, Gaara spoke with a hint of worry, "She's waking up."

Kankuro called out to her, his voice tinged with concern, "Hey, Sakura. Are you hurt?"

As she groaned, Sakura was still groggy and entirely out of sorts, "Shukaku..." Her unexpected words sent both Gaara and Kankuro into surprise and confusion. They exchanged puzzled glances, unable to fathom why she would mention the name of the tailed beast that had once been sealed within Gaara.

Kankuro voiced his bewilderment, "Is she able to communicate with Shukaku?"

Gaara shook his head, his expression perplexed. "That's impossible."

As Sakura gradually became more alert, she lifted her torso off the sandy ground and quickly scanned her surroundings, discovering Kankuro and Gaara beside her. Her gaze then shifted to the horrific sight of massive sand mounds, beneath which lay the lifeless bodies of Suna civilians and Shinobi. Some fortunate ones had managed to crawl out of the sand, their faces etched with shock and relief. The once beautiful beach had been ravaged by the colossal ships, leaving behind a scene of devastation.

Kankuro couldn't resist a touch of sarcasm, remarking, "Next time, keep your compliments about Gaara to yourself. Looks like you jinxed us."

Ever the calm and collected figure, Gaara came to Sakura's defense, asserting, "That wasn't her fault."

Confused and disoriented, Sakura asked, "What happened?"

Kankuro offered a grim explanation, "The ship attacks not only obliterated the beach but also wiped out a few villages nearby."

Gaara's gaze fixed on the horizon, he added, "We managed to take out the ships, so we should be safe for the moment."

Kankuro, however, wasn't ready to let Gaara take all the credit, stating with a glare, "I appreciate you including us, but let's be clear, you're the one who took down those ships, and they ended up in pieces on the shoreline."

Sakura's eyes widened as she turned around to see the massive boats blown to bits across the beach. A sense of fear and awe washed over her, reminiscent of the feelings she had harbored for Gaara when they were younger.

Gaara rose and ordered, "I have to return to the village to report the casualties. I want both of you to stay here and remain hidden until I get back. We might have the element of surprise on our side when I return."

Kankuro voiced a valid concern, "Do you think it's possible that this fleet of ships isn't the only one out here?"

Gaara nodded, serious, "No, these were someone's soldiers. We need to find out who ordered this attack on us. I'll be on my way."

Rising to her feet, Sakura brushed the sand off her clothes and followed Kankuro as he made his way toward the relatively intact vessel stranded on the shore. Finding an opening, they ventured inside, only to discover that the ship's interior had been crushed beyond recognition. Debris fell from above with a loud crash, narrowly missing Sakura before it plummeted behind her. Startled, she grabbed Kankuro and exclaimed, "Damn, that was too close."

Kankuro nodded and cautioned, "We need to watch our step around here."

As they continued to explore the ship, Kankuro noticed a doorway that appeared to be undamaged. However, upon entering the room beyond, he froze in shock. Sakura hurried to catch up with him, concerned, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Kankuro hesitated for a moment before responding, "Just be prepared. You won't believe what's in here."

With trepidation, Sakura joined Kankuro and was met with a harrowing sight. The room was buried beneath piles of rubble, and it had trapped several unconscious children, their tiny bodies entwined around ominous, steel-black, electrified spheres encased in glass. Most of the glass had shattered upon impact with the ship. Sakura gasped and rushed forward to aid them, disregarding Kankuro's warnings.

Kankuro urgently called out, "Hey, wait! It could be dangerous."

Ignoring his pleas, Sakura approached a young girl beside one of the black orbs. She placed two fingers on the girl's neck, desperately searching for a pulse, but found none. By the time Kankuro reached her, Sakura had already checked the beatings of several of the children, and the devastating truth became clear – none of them had survived.

Kankuro sighed heavily and remarked, "This situation just keeps getting stranger. When we were still battling those knights, we noticed the spirits of young children ascending into the sky. They were being used for something."

Tears rose in Sakura's eyes, and she choked out, "Why did it have to be children?"

Kankuro pushed aside his emotions as he responded, "You should know by now that being a Shinobi is never easy, both physically and mentally. You never truly get used to it, but I've learned to suppress my feelings in situations like this. We can do nothing for them now, so let's go."

Sakura, still sobbing, nodded in agreement as she wiped away her tears. She glanced upward and suggested, "Someone might come looking for them to see if they're still alive. We should hide up there."

Kankuro looked up at the overhead pipes and turned to her, asking, "Want me to carry you up there?"

Sakura, determined, glared back at him and retorted, "I can do it on my own."

Kankuro smirked and crossed his arms, replying, "Sure, then, by all means, go ahead."

With a determined expression, Sakura stepped onto a pipe and leaped towards a section of the caved-in wall, attempting to reach a solitary line. However, her grip slipped, and she started to fall. Sakura gasped, but before she knew it, she was already in Kankuro's arms as he effortlessly propelled them higher to a concealed hiding spot within the ship.

Kankuro reassured her, "Don't worry, I've got you." He released her but kept a firm hold on her waist to ensure she wouldn't plummet. Sakura glared at him and muttered, "This is so ridiculous."

Kankuro couldn't help but laugh as he released Crow from his clothes and remarked, "Well, you were the one who suggested this plan."

Inside the ship, the sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention. It was Naruto and an unfamiliar figure – a tall young man with porcelain white skin, neck-length blond hair, and striking green eyes. He was clad in medieval-style armor, complete with a helmet and a flowing red cape, wearing a black shirt beneath, a green cloth around his neck, and elbow-length black arm warmers. Naruto couldn't contain his curiosity as they traversed the debris and shattered glass and demanded, "Hold on, what's all this about?"

The blond figure in the steel armor abruptly stopped but offered no response. Frustrated by the silence, Naruto raised his voice, demanding, "Answer me!"

Crow descended from above without warning, its six arms tightly wrapping around the enigmatic man's body to ensnare him. From the elevated vantage point, Kankuro said, "Naruto, what are you doing here?"

Baffled, Naruto scanned his surroundings but couldn't spot anyone nearby. Kankuro landed gracefully beside the captive man, perched atop broken pipes, and greeted Naruto with a confident grin. Sakura soon followed suit, leaping beside Kankuro, waving cheerfully, and chiming in, "Hey, Naruto. Long time no see."

Stunned, Naruto stammered, "Kankuro? Sakura?"

"Yeah, you got it," Kankuro confirmed, maintaining his smirk. He looked sidelong at the armored stranger and taunted, "Thought you could sneak up on us, huh? You shouldn't underestimate the Shinobi of the Hidden Sand."

Naruto, still bewildered, asked, "I don't get it. What's going on?"

Kankuro dropped his crossed arms and adopted a more somber expression. "Ah, man. You don't know about this? These people invaded the Land of Wind out of nowhere."

Naruto's face contorted with shock. "Are you serious?"

Sakura added grimly, "We've suffered quite a few casualties trying to stop them. Entire villages were decimated in the battle."

Naruto turned his stern gaze toward the man in armor and demanded, "Is that true?"

The man, speaking quietly, replied, "A noble sacrifice for the greater good."

Naruto's anger flared, and he retorted, "You bastard, saying and doing are two different things."

Kankuro, sensing the tension, interjected, "Look, sorry for butting in, but I'm going to take care of him now."

Naruto swung his arm with determination and shouted, "Stay out of this. He's my opponent, you got that?"

Sakura snapped back, her voice filled with sternness, "Don't speak to him that way."

A symbol on the armored man's chest began to glow, and with a swift, decisive motion, he broke free from Crow's grip, tossing the puppet across the room and slamming it into the wall. Drawing his steel sword, adorned with gold accents and a red jewel with wings on the handle, he pointed it menacingly at Naruto and declared, "Those who interfere must be eliminated."

Kankuro couldn't help but chuckle, dismissing the threat nonchalantly. "Yeah, whatever..." But then, in the darkness behind him, he sensed an unsettling presence. His eyes widened, and he turned half his head and torso to catch a glimpse of a female figure lurking in the shadows, clad in burgundy armor.

The woman pouted and admonished, "Temujin, you know you're not supposed to be here, you idiot. Your primary duty is scouting."

Another woman, dressed in dark blue armor, appeared behind her and added, "This one is out to be a lookout; there's another unit nearby."

Temujin, the armored blond, defended himself, "Ranke... Kamira... yes, but..."

Kamira, the one in dark blue armor, interrupted, "What's gotten you so worked up?"

In the burgundy armor, Ranke said decisively, "We're splitting before it gets ugly around here."

In an instant, two massive walls of sand closed in on them, crushing them with tremendous force and causing a gigantic sand explosion. However, to Gaara's surprise, the two women escaped harm. Gaara jumped over his wall of sand, determined to chase them down. He declared, "You're not getting away."

Kankuro followed Gaara closely and couldn't resist a sarcastic remark, "Nice for you to finally show up."  Sakura gasped in a panic and pleaded, "Hey, wait for me."

The brothers and Sakura had trailed the girls further into the intricate maze of pipelines within the ship's compound. Gaara turned his head to address Sakura, who had positioned herself between the brothers, and said, "You should go help Naruto fight Temujin."

Sakura glared at Gaara with determination and replied firmly, "No way. You need me to deal with these girls."

Ranke gracefully landed on the pipes above them, crouching with a sly grin, and said, "I suppose we can play."

Kamira, gripping another pipe with her arm, smirked and added, "You should know when it's time to walk away."

Gaara displayed remarkable control as he deftly manipulated his sand to pursue the nimble intruders. Yet, their swiftness consistently outpaced his efforts, compelling them to chase the two women separately. Gaara vaulted into the air, hotly pursuing Ranke, while Kankuro and Sakura tenaciously trailed Kamira through the intricate corridors of the ship.

As Kankuro and Sakura pursued Kamira, they resumed flinging kunai knives in her direction, hoping to impede her progress. Kankuro commented, "She's quite gifted at dodging." Mid-flight, Kamira executed a turn to face them, and an inexplicable stillness overcame Kankuro, rendering him seemingly immobilized. Sakura called out to him in vain, but he remained unresponsive. Seizing the moment, Sakura discreetly moved behind Kankuro to investigate. Within the darkness, Kankuro broke the silence, remarking, "So, you employ Genjutsu. Your crafts appear to revolve around the darkness. Frankly, I'm unimpressed."

Suddenly, Kankuro was bombarded with agonized screams and desperate cries, his eyes widening in sheer terror as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Kamira ominously declared, "These voices belong to those who rebelled against us, now languishing in the land of death, imprisoned by their regrets. Prepare yourself for an eternity of torment."

A sinister, dark aura ensnared Kankuro's arms, forcibly hurling him toward what seemed like a pool of molten lava. However, instead of lava, an ominous and nightmarish entity emerged from the depths, sporting a grotesque mask adorned with menacing, oversized teeth. The abomination extended its terrifying limbs towards Kankuro, emanating tendrils of malevolent chakra that resembled serpents, each intent on biting and tearing into him. Kankuro's anguished screams filled the air as these ethereal serpents sank their fangs into various parts of his body, inflicting excruciating pain. Suddenly, he found himself upright, but the trauma of the ordeal left him profoundly shaken.

With concern, Sakura seized Kankuro's face in her trembling hands and called out, "Kankuro!"

In a moment of regained awareness, Kankuro deftly switched positions with his puppet, urgently pulling Sakura to seek refuge beneath the collapsed floor. Speaking in hushed tones, Kankuro questioned her, "First, we hear you speaking Shukaku's name, and now it turns out you're immune to Genjutsu, like Gaara. Is there something you want to tell me? How did you manage to wake me up?"

Panicked, Sakura whispered back, "I don't know, Kankuro. All I did was touch you."

Before Crow, the puppet ingeniously impersonating Kankuro, the eerie Kamira materialized, her cruel grip tightly constricting around Crow's neck. Amused, she taunted, "I'll see you in the afterlife."

Desperately, Crow made futile attempts to reach her hands, attempting to loosen her suffocating hold, but his struggles proved in vain. Suddenly, his form disintegrated into cascading grains of sand, and Crow's countenance reappeared. His gaping mouth projected a flurry of Kunai knives towards Kamira. Yet, her body fragmented into a hundred ominous black bats, each adorned with fiery red eyes, scattering in all directions. With an air of indifference, she released her formidable Genjutsu, unwilling to squander any more time on a mere puppet. She chuckled sinisterly, "So, that's your fighting style."

Huddled together on the floor below, Kankuro murmured to Sakura, "This girl is no joke."

Emerging unexpectedly, the metallic confines surrounding them began to creak and shudder. Sakura clung to Kankuro, her voice filled with concern, "What's happening?"

An angry growl escaped Kankuro's lips as he replied, "Damn it, Gaara's about to tear this entire ship apart." He glanced at Sakura, who clung to him with tightly closed eyes to shield them from the sand infiltrating the space. Kankuro swiftly retrieved Crow, unwrapped Black Ant, and accessed its interior, motioning for Sakura to enter. Once inside, he cradled her securely in his arms. Sakura trembled, fearing they might be buried alive, and lamented, "We're going to be buried."

Kankuro's smirk betrayed his determination, "Not if I can help it."

With Sakura sheltered within, he propelled them upward through the ruptured floor and affixed Black Ant to the relatively stable roof of the crumbling ship, gripping her firmly until the tumult subsided. Gently, he unsealed Black Ant and disembarked with Sakura cradled in his arms, his voice heavy with concern, "Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"

Sakura embraced him, their connection palpable, and said, "Thanks to you, I'm fine, my knight in shining armor."

Kankuro blushed at her words and chuckled, "I see what you did there; that's cute." Setting her down gently, he surveyed their surroundings, discovering that Kamira was nowhere to be found.

They observed a sizable, newly formed breach on the ship's side that hadn't been there before. The relentless sun bore down on them relentlessly while the boat clung to a fragile semblance of integrity. Sakura sighed deeply and voiced her concern, "Now we have to go find her."

Kankuro, unfazed, responded confidently, "She definitely couldn't have gone far after Gaara's sand tsunami, no way." Side by side, they navigated a series of corridors in their quest to locate her. Upon reaching the ship's gaping hole, they glimpsed Gaara still locked in combat with the other woman, though the swirling dust made it challenging to discern the details.

Sakura was frustrated, "I can't believe he did this; now we can't retrieve the kids."

Kankuro attempted to offer both support and a pragmatic perspective, stating, "If they were truly alive, at least Gaara ended their suffering swiftly. It wouldn't be the first time."

Sakura's frown deepened, and she retorted, "You didn't have to remind me..."

Kankuro maintained his casual demeanor, replying with a smirk, "Well, I'm just trying to look on the bright side while you always gravitate toward the darker aspects of these situations."

At the end of the corridor, Kankuro pointed out Kamira, who continued to flee. She had emerged from the ship with no apparent escape route in sight. Sakura locked her eyes on Kamira, finally affording a clearer view of her in the brilliant sunlight. Kamira possessed a complexion of alabaster, her long blonde hair cascading down her back and her eyes shimmering with an eerie reddish hue.

"Found you," Kankuro called out, hurling a Kunai knife toward Kamira, who agilely dodged it. Standing confidently beside Kankuro, Sakura had Kunai knives clasped between her knuckles. She inquired, "You're not thinking of leaving, are you?"

Kamira retorted, "You should have made your exit while you still had the chance, sweetie."

Sakura clicked her tongue in irritation, her annoyance evident. She remarked, "As if." Sakura and Kankuro launched more Kunai knives at Kamira, who leaped into the air and underwent a transformation. She morphed into a bat-like humanoid with black skin, white hair, and crimson eyes.

Kankuro, his shock palpable, asked, "What just happened to her?"

Sakura replied calmly, "It seems she can somehow transform into a bat."

In the sky, Kamira exhaled a burst of purple smoke toward Kankuro before taking flight, her laughter echoing. Kankuro and Sakura covered their face, choking on the smoke, and muffledly commented, "Nice trick."

Sakura chased after her and cried out, "Wait, you bitch!"

Kankuro urgently called out to Sakura as she initiated her chase, "Wait, Sakura!"

Without knowing what lay ahead, Sakura attempted to follow, but instead, she lost her footing and tumbled over the ledge, not realizing what was below. A startled scream escaped her lips, and Kankuro reacted swiftly, leaping over the edge to save her, his fingers clutching the ledge firmly. As they glanced downward, they were met with the vast expanse of the ocean, and neither of them relished the idea of taking an impromptu swim. Kankuro shouted to her, "You're an idiot. My threat from earlier still holds."

Sakura blushed and retorted, "Hey, that's not fair."

A sudden violent gust of wind, stirred by Gaara's sand manipulation during his nearby battle, buffeted Sakura and Kankuro. Sakura struggled to maintain her grip but was ultimately catapulted into the air. Kankuro, helpless to reach her, watched in anguish as she somersaulted through the air and miraculously landed on another piece of metal jutting out from the ship. Sakura gasped for breath, her heart still pounding, while Kankuro, still clinging precariously to the ledge, felt relief that she was safe, even though his situation was far from ideal. He shouted to her, "Hey, are you okay out there?"

Sakura waved back with a reassuring smile and replied, "Yeah, I'm okay."

Meanwhile, Kamira flew past them, enveloped in her purple smoke, summoning Temijun to retreat. She deftly scooped him up with her feet, and together, they vanished into the distance while Naruto gave chase. He declared, "Nice try. I won't let you get away."

Naruto leaped toward them and inadvertently latched onto Kankuro, gripping his black bodysuit tightly, thinking he had captured the escaping intruders.

Irritated, Kankuro glared and snapped, "Let go of me, you idiot."

As the smoke dissipated and Naruto finally recognized Kankuro, he released his hold, a bewildered expression crossing his face. Kankuro, still holding onto the ledge with both arms, muttered, "Losing my grip..."

Naruto bellowed, "What the hell are you even doing up here!?"

Sakura couldn't contain herself and burst into laughter, her mirthful echoes resonating through the metal structure. She pounded on the metal surface, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle of her boyfriend's comical struggle. Kankuro, seething with frustration, growled, "Oh, you are so going to pay for this when we get back home."

Naruto, still baffled, yelled, "How the hell did she end up over there?"

Kankuro pleaded with Sakura, desperation evident in his voice, "Quit laughing and lend us a hand already. I'm losing my grip here."

Despite her laughter, Sakura finally composed herself and agreed, "Alright, alright." She retrieved her Shamisen from the red sash tied around her waist and played a lively tune. However, the vibrations from her music unexpectedly caused Naruto and Kankuro to be propelled in the opposite direction she had intended. Sakura panicked as she watched them plummet into the water below, her laughter mingling with her distress at the unintended outcome.

Naruto resurfaced, sputtering, and quickly swam toward solid ground, eager to put as much distance as possible between himself and the water. He knew he had to catch up with his team and find Temujin, wherever they had gone.

Kankuro, on the other hand, swam through the water like a shark, hunting Sakura, who was laughing at the edge of the metal surface. In a sudden, dramatic motion, Kankuro burst out of the water and yanked Sakura in before she could scream. They both resurfaced, now engaged in a playful yet frantic water fight, splashing and wrestling like siblings at play.

Their antics abruptly ceased as Gaara, with his characteristic calm, appeared on the metal platform. He questioned them in his usual composed manner, "What are you two doing?" Both Sakura and Kankuro shot him a glare that could rival his own, for Gaara had initially put them in this predicament.

Kankuro, maintaining his smirk and undaunted by Gaara's presence, used his chakra strings to subtly grab Gaara by the ankle and swiftly pulled him into the water, all without the Sand Sibling noticing until it was too late. Gaara resurfaced, shaking his head to rid his hair of moisture, and cast an irritated gaze at the mischievous duo. Kankuro explained, "That was for blowing us out of the ship..."

Instead of dignifying Kankuro and Sakura with a response, Gaara swam back to the shore, declaring, "Follow them. I need to go back and dry off." Sakura couldn't help but whisper to Kankuro, "Why did you do that? You know he's going to get his revenge on you." Kankuro chuckled confidently, "I'd like to see him try."

Their lighthearted banter was suddenly interrupted as a dark shadow loomed above them. They instinctively gazed upward and were met with a colossal mound of sand hurtling toward them at breakneck speed. Panic set in as Sakura desperately attempted to swim away, her voice tinged with fear as she cried out, "I didn't do anything! It was all Kankuro!"

Kankuro, struggling to keep up with her, yelled, "You're both dead when we get back from this mission."

The enormous mass of sand descended upon them, engulfing them like a sudden dust storm underwater. They quickly dove below to avoid the brunt of the impact on their heads. After the sand dissipated, they resurfaced and returned to the shore, playfully pushing each other in a good-natured manner as they left the battlefield.

As they passed through the desolate desert, Sakura couldn't help but fix her gaze upon the heart-wrenching sight before her—a vast expanse of rubble and debris that had once been a thriving village of innocent civilians. The landscape was now dotted with medical shinobi units spread across acres of land, tirelessly attending to the injured. Remembering Kankuro's advice to keep moving forward, she pressed on, knowing that there was no moment to revisit and no way to undo the devastation that had occurred.

Kankuro, keenly aware of Sakura's distress, couldn't bear to see her in such pain. Without a word, he leaped in front of her, gently but firmly taking hold of her wrists. His expression mirrored her worry, and it was clear that he understood the turmoil that was brewing within her. Sakura, seeking solace in his presence, leaned into Kankuro's chest and allowed herself to release all the pent-up emotions weighing on her. She let out a guttural cry in the desolate desert with no one around for miles and sobbed uncontrollably. For an eternity, she mourned the lives lost, grieving for the innocent souls caught in the crossfire of tragedy.

When she finally managed to collect herself, Sakura wiped away her tears and, with a shaky voice, declared, "I'm okay now."

Kankuro, his concern never wavering, gently released her from his grasp and inquired, "Are you sure? We understand that this is an incredibly difficult situation, and no one expects you to be devoid of emotions during times like these."

Sakura sniffled, composing herself, and began to walk past him. Her response was quiet but appreciative, "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks, I needed that."

In the distance, a brilliant light shot up into the sky, seemingly beckoning someone. Kankuro pointed toward the luminous beacon and said, "That's where we need to go."

Now in higher spirits, knowing they had found their mission's destination, Sakura said, "Well, what are you waiting for?" They continued their brisk pace into the afternoon until they reached the edge of a cliff. At the bottom lay the remnants of Gelel, with a massive ship appearing to have crash-landed within its heart. With no prior knowledge of the situation, Sakura couldn't help but inquire, "What are those ruins? And what's that? It flew right into them."

Kankuro, equally perplexed by the sight before them, shrugged and replied, "I have no idea what's going on, but one thing's for sure—we're not going to stand around here waiting."

Kankuro leaped gracefully alongside Sakura, one boulder after another, until they finally landed in front of the entrance. As they sneaked inside, they could hear the distinct voices of people engaged in a heated argument, prompting them to stay out of sight.

The chamber was supported by massive pillars and featured multiple platforms leading to a central, movable stone platform. In the center of it all, the elderly man shifted, causing the leading platform to sink gradually. Tamujin, filled with anger, was left baffled by this action. Meanwhile, individuals who had descended from the ship floated down into the chamber. Naruto swiftly leaped inside, leaving Shikamaru and Sakura Haruno to confront the two armored women who could transform into ferocious beasts. Sakura Haruno rushed off to face the werewolf-like adversary while Shikamaru squared against Kamira.

Positioned discreetly behind Kankuro, taking cover behind the massive pillars, Sakura spotted Kamira soaring in the sky. She whispered to Kankuro, "If Shikamaru can find a way to immobilize her, we can capture her with Black Ant."

Kankuro turned his head to give Sakura a reassuring smile and replied, "That's a great idea. If we can maneuver ourselves behind her without being detected, Shikamaru will be able to see us and devise the next steps accordingly."

Sakura couldn't help but chuckle softly as she added, "He's really that clever, huh? It's no wonder Temari is fond of him."

Kankuro observed the unfolding events and remarked, "What's he up to?"

Shikamaru struggled to immobilize Kamira, preventing her from darting around so he could execute his jutsu. With a calculated glance toward Kankuro and Sakura, a plan began to take shape in his mind. He skillfully fastened strings to explosive tags and then attached them to kunai knives, launching them in such numbers that they enveloped Kamira, poised to detonate.

Sakura whispered to Kankuro, "Now it's our turn."

With a graceful leap, Sakura emerged from the shadows cast by the towering pillar, her Shamisen in hand. Meanwhile, Kankuro unwrapped Black Ant, concealing it beneath Sakura to avoid detection. Together, they waited patiently, ready to strike when the moment was right.

Maintaining his composure, Shikamaru advised, "It might be best not to move too recklessly." He casually tossed a food pill at one of the tags, causing it to explode.

In response, Kamira emitted a playful giggle, circling above. She quipped, "Oh, what's this? An escape route? Just kidding. Your shadow jutsu is lurking down there, isn't it? There's more than enough room for me up here, and your shadow can't reach me. So long!"

With a mischievous smile, Kamira blew a mocking kiss in Shikamaru's direction. However, Sakura quickly adjusted the strings on her instrument and began to sing a paralyzing tune. Kamira screamed, clutching her ears in agony as Sakura's song overpowered her. She couldn't maintain her flight and fell, landing inside Black Ant, which sliced her apart, ending her life.

Shikamaru coolly remarked, "Well, it went more or less according to my plan." He and Sakura leaped down, joining Kankuro on the same rock formation beneath the tags he had set up. Shikamaru acknowledged Kankuro, saying, "You really bailed me out there."

Kankuro grinned and replied, "Don't mention it. Plus, I had a score to settle with her anyway. By the way, those exploding tags of yours will be a real pain to navigate."

Shikamaru smirked and said, "Don't worry; most are just regular pieces of paper."

Surprised by this revelation, Kankuro asked, "Really?"

Impressed with Shikamaru's ingenuity, Sakura chimed in, "You're quite the talented Shinobi. I can see why they promoted you to Jonin at such a young age."

Shikamaru scratched the back of his head and gave a sheepish smile as he responded, "You're welcome." Shortly after, Sakura Haruno gracefully landed beside them, a warm smile gracing her face as she addressed the other Sakura standing with Kankuro. She greeted her, saying, "Hey, it's been a while. How have you been holding up?"

The Sakura from the Sand replied, "I've certainly seen better days."

Shikamaru's gaze shifted to the crashed ship that had fallen from the sky, and he shared some crucial information, "Naruto mentioned something about using children to control the movement of these mechanical ships and flying machines. So, some of them might still be alive up there."

Sakura Haruno nodded in agreement and outlined a plan, saying, "You two can bring the children up to the surface, while I tend to their wounds. Gaara is waiting for Sakura up on the cliff."

Both boys readily accepted the responsibility and leaped into the opened ship to rescue the surviving children. Meanwhile, Sakura of the Sand followed Sakura Haruno as they ascended to the top of the cliff, where they spotted Gaara in the distance.

With an exuberant smile, Sakura rushed toward Gaara to greet him. He stood there, arms crossed, and inquired, "What's happening now?"

Sakura responded, "We're rescuing the children from the ship. We took down Kamira, so I believe we've achieved justice for our people."

Gaara observed as Shikamaru and Kankuro emerged, carrying children over their shoulders. He asked Sakura, "Was this mission challenging for you?"

Sakura replied, "The knights posed a challenge, but apart from that, I'd say the mission went relatively smoothly."

Gaara quietly remarked, "I'm glad to see you in good health. When we return, I have a new mission for you, alongside Granny Chiyo."

Once Kankuro and Shikamaru had safely brought the children to the group, Sakura Haruno completed her medical aid. The ground began to tremble again, and Kankuro and Sakura turned their attention to Gaara, who had been the source of these tremors lately. Gaara responded, "I'm not causing this."

The group moved to the cliff's edge and witnessed the ruins collapsing in on themselves, along with the massive flying machine sinking into the depths below, shrouded in a black haze. Sakura of the Sand leaned over the edge and uttered, "No way..."

Sakura Haruno voiced her concern, "Naruto, where's Naruto? He's not still in there, is he?"

Shikamaru clenched his teeth and chased after Sakura, leaving the brothers behind. Sakura leaped down, calling out Naruto's name. A bright green beam of light shot up into the sky, blinding them momentarily, and the rock formations began to morph, covered in lush greenery and long strands of grass. It was as if a paradise had sprung from the ruins of death.

In the distance, the sunset painted the horizon with warm hues as the rock formations settled. With his arms crossed, Kankuro walked up beside Gaara and Sakura and commented, "Well, would you look at that."

Sakura, her eyes gleaming with wonder, remarked, "It's beautiful."

Gaara started walking away from the cliff and said, "Let's go home."

Kankuro and Sakura followed him, leaping off the massive rock formations and gracefully landing on the sandy ground below. They sprinted across the desert for a few hours, managing to return to Sunagakure before sundown.