Chapter 15: Shukaku's Temple

The following morning, sunlight streamed through the window, gently illuminating Sakura's face as she stirred. Her eyes opened to find Kankuro, as always, watching over her. His restful night made him feel more energetic than ever. Sakura gently rubbed his cheek, greeting him warmly, "Good morning."

Kankuro leaned in for a kiss and gently said, "I can't pee with this erection." 

Sakura giggled, crawled over him, and whispered, "I can help with that, leader of the counter-terrorism division."

Kankuro rubbed the back of his head, blushing. She crept under the sheets, stroked his thighs, and encased Kankuro's penis in her mouth. Her tongue swirled around, sucking on him. Sakura's saliva dribbled like semen while he moaned, grasping her cranium. Pleasuring him alone wasn't reasonable for Sakura. She rubbed on her pulsing, wet vagina. 

Kankuro whimpered, "Shit if you don't stop, ill cum." 

Sakura dragged herself on top of Gaara, rubbing her clitoris on his erect penis. "Cum inside me, Kankuro. I fucking dare you." 

Kankuro smirked and rolled her back on the bed, pushing her legs forward. He slipped inside her wet pussy and fucked her while she moaned loudly. He tongue fucked her to keep her quiet.

"If you don't stop shouting, you'll leave me no choice but to cum in your mouth."

Sakura panted as she uttered, "I can't help it." She grasped his hand to suck and lick his tongue. Watching her sexually take every part of him was enough for him to cum. He groaned and collapsed on top of her. 

Sakura whispered, "That was fun…" 

Kankuro chuckled before moving to the bed's edge, his breath heavy. The young couple approached the bed's edge, preparing to change their clothes. As they readied themselves, there was a knock at the door, and Kankuro answered to find Temari dressed and prepared to go. She informed them, "Come downstairs for breakfast."

He nodded and waited until she left before closing the door. Sakura approached him, curiosity in her eyes. She inquired, "What did Temari want?"

"Breakfast is ready downstairs," he replied.

Sakura tilted her head, her smile growing wider. "Great, I'm starving."

As they went downstairs to the dining room, they found Hisashi Hyuga seated at the end of the table, sipping on a mug of hot green tea with an array of small breakfast selections before him. Temari and Gaara occupied one side of the table.

With a courteous gesture, Kankuro pulled out a chair for Sakura, positioning her closest to Hisashi. The discussion focused on Sakura's newly discovered abilities. Hisashi acknowledged their presence, saying, "It's an honor to be in the company of Lord Kazekage and his family. I received a notice that you would be here for the next couple of days and that you wished to speak with me. To save you the trouble of walking too far, I decided to greet you here before you meet with Lady Tsunade."

Gaara nodded in acknowledgment, but Kankuro replied on his behalf, "We appreciate the kind gesture. We do have some concerns about Sakura." 

Hisashi inquired, "Concerns?" 

Kankuro continued, "During a mission with Sakura, we encountered a Genjutsu user. Surprisingly, Sakura was the only one immune to it. While it's not unheard of for individuals to possess such an ability without being Jinchuriki, other strange occurrences followed."

Gaara lifted his head to contribute to the story, saying, "That's right. During a battle, Sakura was knocked unconscious, but when we woke her up, she uttered Shukaku's name. He's our Tailed Beast."

Sakura jumped in, anxious to share additional information, "There's more to that story," Sakura took a sip of her tea, her expression focused as she continued, "I woke up in some void, with barely a centimeter of water at my feet. In front of me, Shukaku stood like a skyscraper, massive, with those intimidating yellow eyes. Shukaku opened its mouth and let out a horrifying roar, and that's when I woke up in the hospital."

Temari shivered and admitted, "I used to have nightmares about it too."

Sakura pressed on, "Except it didn't feel like a dream. The second time it happened was when I went unconscious on the beach. I had to enter some shrine within a pool of water to see him roar at me again."

Gaara sighed and confirmed, "That wasn't a dream."

Hisashi nodded and said, "It's a place between time and space, accessible only to those invited, like the Jinchuriki. It concerns me that you can do that."

Kankuro crossed his arms and questioned, "Doesn't that imply she's somehow connected to Shukaku?"

Hisashi said, "I wish I had answers for you, but I don't know. I can tell you that when we were unlocking her chakra, we noticed she wasn't entirely blocked off. I had never in my life seen that before."

With the meeting officially concluded, it became clear that Suna's library would be the next step to finding answers. The group followed the Hyuga Clan to the door, bidding them farewell. Just in time, Shikamaru appeared, carrying a scroll in his hand. He handed it to Gaara, who stepped back inside to read the letter's contents under the artificial lighting. Kankuro, anxious to know, asked, "So, what did they say?"

Gaara rolled the scroll back up and replied, "They agreed with me."

Kankuro sighed in frustration, saying, "You've got to be kidding me…"

Shikamaru inquired, "Would you like me to inform them that we can proceed with the meeting?"

Kankuro, after a resigned sigh, crossed his arms and replied, "Yeah, we're ready."

Shikamaru, rubbing his hand on his neck, added, "We will meet you in the conference room then. Don't be late."

The next day, the Kazekage family sat on one side of the table, patiently awaiting the Hokage and her council. The atmosphere in the room grew tense as Shikamaru settled into his chair.

Tsunade interlocked her fingers and proposed, "What do you think about a joint sponsorship with Konoha? We'll hold the first round of the written exam in Konoha. Sunagakure will host the site of the second round survival test."

Koharu said, "The Forest of Death has become overly familiar as a testing ground. We need a new location."

The siblings exchanged silent glances, their thoughts understood without a word. Gaara nodded towards Tsunade and stated, "We have no objections."

With a smile, Lady Tsunade confirmed, "So, we are in agreement. We will extend invitations to the other villages and proceed accordingly. Choose your top Genin for these exams, and we will notify you of the commencement date."

Temari sported a smirk and declared, "As a matter of fact, we already have a participant. She's the first from our village to have her chakra unblocked."

Lady Tsunade turned her gaze towards Sakura and said, "I look forward to witnessing how far you've come since the day we first met."

Sakura nodded and replied, "You won't be disappointed."

Lady Tsunade rose and concluded, "We will commence our preparations soon. Have a safe journey back to Sunagakure. Thank you for attending this meeting."

The Kazekage family nodded and accompanied Shikamaru to the front gate of Konohagakure. He waved to them and stated, "Alright, then. We'll meet again at the Chunin exams."

As Shikamaru walked away with Gaara, Kankuro replied stoically, "Yeah."

Temari playfully taunted, "Come to us if any trouble arises. We'll take care of it, Mr. Crybaby."

Turning to follow the brothers, Sakura inquired, "So, he's 'Mr. Cry Baby' now?"

Temari playfully nudged Sakura in response to her teasing, but Sakura couldn't resist continuing to giggle. The family swiftly leaped through the trees. Temari matched Sakura's pace with a sly grin and asked, "Seems like you had quite a morning, huh?"

Sakura blushed and gasped, "You were eavesdropping on us?"

Temari laughed and retorted, "You think it was a mere coincidence that I knocked on your door after your little session? You were so loud."

"I couldn't help myself." 

"Bitch please, the sex couldn't have been that good."

Sakura whispered, "It's so good, it's addictive. I can't keep my mind straight for hours after."

Temari giggled and said, "Eww, gross."

After overhearing their giggles and hushed conversations, Gaara inquired, "What's going on back there?"

The girls broke into laughter simultaneously and replied, "Nothing!"

Kankuro glanced at Gaara and remarked, "You're better off not knowing."

Kankuro questioned, "You can hear them?"

Kankuro smirked and replied, "No, Temari caught us having sex this morning." 

Gaara glared and said, "Yeah, I didn't need to know that..."  As Sakura, Kankuro, Temari, and Gaara embarked on their journey from Konohagakure to Sunagakure, they couldn't help but notice the stark differences between the two villages. The lush, green forests and towering trees of Konohagakure gradually gave way to the barren, sun-soaked landscapes surrounding Sunagakure.

The journey started enthusiastically as Sakura marveled at the sights and sounds, but the mood grew heavier as they continued. The initial excitement was soon replaced by tension. Temari and Kankuro had concerns about the decision to co-sponsor the Chunin exams with Konoha. Gaara planned to use the exams to lure the Akatsuki, who were after him and Shukaku. However, considering the unrest in their village, his siblings believed it was too dangerous.

Kankuro was the first to voice his objections. He turned to Gaara, his voice filled with frustration. "Why are you doing this, Gaara?"

Temari chimed in, sharing her concerns. "We understand your intentions, but the village's safety should be our priority."

Sakura listened to the heated exchange between the siblings, her heart torn. She knew Gaara's determination to protect the village and understood Temari and Kankuro's fears. Yet, she didn't want to be the cause of conflict between the family.

As the argument continued, Sakura finally spoke up. "I agree with Gaara's decision to co-sponsor the exams. It's a chance to prove that Sunagakure is solid and united. But I also agree that Gaara's stupid sponsorship could get him killed, but he won't change his mind. There's no point in arguing with him."

The family fell into a contemplative silence, acknowledging the truth in Sakura's words. Gaara was determined to proceed with his plan, and they had to accept that. As they drew nearer to the familiar sand dunes and the arid expanse of Sunagakure, the impending Chunin exams weighed heavily on their minds. The journey had left a lingering sense of uncertainty, and their concerns were far from resolved.

Days later, as the village came into view, the preparations for the Chunin exams began. The entire village was abuzz with activity as they readied themselves for the event, their anticipation and anxiety growing with each passing moment.

As the village drew near, Sakura's daily progress in her training became more evident, and her physical growth was becoming noticeable. She no longer struggled to keep up with Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro during their return journeys, and, for the first time, she didn't collapse from exhaustion.

The arrival in Sunagakure occurred on the second night, and they managed to rest until the following day. Gathered around the dining room table for breakfast, Kankuro laid out the plan for the day. He turned to Sakura and spoke purposefully, "We have a crucial day ahead of us. While Gaara and Temari recruit participants, you and I will focus on training your sonic waves. You'll need to be able to create different types of attacks with them."

Sakura inhaled deeply, understanding the gravity of the task at hand. "I guess I won't be getting much sleep for a while, huh?"

Gaara and Temari shared a knowing look, and then they both chuckled. They knew that the Chunin exams were not to be taken lightly, and Sakura's determination was a testament to her commitment to the coming challenges.

Kankuro led Sakura to the village's gymnasium, an ample, open space where those seeking to become Shinobi put in hours of sweat and training. Crow and Black Ant, Kankuro's trusty puppets, stood ready at the center of the training area.

Kankuro, dressed in his customary puppeteer attire, turned to Sakura reassuringly. "Alright, Sakura, we're going to work on your jutsu. The Chunin exams are fast approaching, and it's crucial you're well-prepared."

Sakura nodded, her resolve mirrored in her red eyes. She clutched her shamisen, a curious instrument with latent potential. "I'm ready, Kankuro."

He pointed to the puppets. "Your first task is to use your sonic wave jutsu on Crow and Black Ant. Remember, control and precision are key. You don't want to damage them, but you do want to disable their movement."

Sakura took a deep breath and focused on her chakra. Her fingers danced along the shamisen's strings, creating a melody that resonated in the gymnasium. She channeled her chakra into the music, and the notes began to weave a sonic wave of energy.

With a skilled touch, she directed the sonic waves towards the puppets. The soundwaves washed over Crow and Black Ant, enveloping them in a subtle yet powerful force. The puppets' movements stuttered, their limbs momentarily immobilized.

Kankuro nodded in approval. "Good. You're getting the hang of it. Now, practice until you can maintain the control for a longer duration."

For the training session, Sakura refined her control, gradually extending the duration of her sonic wave jutsu. Kankuro offered guidance and constructive feedback, helping her find the right balance between power and precision. 

In the afternoon, Gaara watched them in the arena as Sakura and Kankuro continued their training. Kankuro approached him to update him on what he had been teaching Sakura and her significant progress since the morning. He returned his puppets, and Gaara took his place as her new trainer.

Sakura greeted Gaara with a smirk, "I was wondering when you'd show up."

With a determined expression, Gaara centered himself in the gym and responded, "I'd hate to see you fail the exams, so you're going to train hard every day until they begin."

Sakura inquired, "With all three of you?"

Gaara nodded and elaborated, "Control and precision in using your sonic waves are essential, but you must also be able to manipulate various frequencies and amplitudes. These variations result in different effects. Understanding these aspects is crucial for the exams."

Sakura listened attentively, absorbing every word. She felt grateful for Gaara's guidance and support, recognizing that he was helping her become a stronger shinobi and a better person.

Throughout the day, they practiced tirelessly. Sakura sent sonic waves at various targets, including sandbags and training dummies. Gaara provided constructive feedback, encouraging her to refine her technique and explore new ways to utilize her abilities.

As the sun began to set, Sakura's energy was nearly depleted. She collapsed to her knees, and Gaara quickly rushed to her side. Concerned, he said, "Have you exhausted most of your chakra? If so, we must stop for the day. We're all learning to increase our chakra supply in one way or another."

Sakura attempted to get up, panting, and replied, "Yeah, I'm okay. I can keep going."

Gaara firmly held her shoulder and gently pushed her back to the ground. He said, "If you push yourself too far, you'll risk your life. We're done for the day."

Sakura had learned valuable lessons during their training. As they left the gymnasium, they both knew she had taken a significant step.

More than a week later, Sakura walked into Gaara's office carrying the participant slips for all twenty-seven Genin, which included herself. While she only had a personal connection with eleven of them, the others recognized her as the pampered princess in a relationship with Suna's prince.

Gaara meticulously cross-checked the participants against his records before handing them back to Sakura. He inquired, "Could you distribute these to all the Genin for me today? You'll all be departing tomorrow morning."

Sakura nodded and confirmed, "Certainly, I'll take care of it. I'll be back shortly."

Sakura reached the empty fields adjacent to the Kazekage building and caught up with one of the three Genin who would be participating in the exams. It turned out to be Shishio, one of the kids who had bullied her in their younger years. His keen sensory abilities alerted him to Sakura's approach. Shishio had long, dark violet hair draping over his face, divided into three sections: a short ponytail, slanted brown-colored eyes, and hollow cheekbones. He wore a blue scarf, a light green shirt, dark green pants, and a dark blue Suna forehead protector.

Shishio faced Sakura and recognized her, saying, "I remember you, Sakura, right?"

As she handed him his participation slip, Sakura nodded and replied, "Yes, that's me. We'll be in the exams together, so I hope we can start fresh."

Shishio glanced down with remorse in his voice, "Yeah, we were just kids with too much time on our hands. It was fun to pick on those who couldn't use jutsu, but that's all in the past. I'm glad you can use Jutsu now. I'm excited to see what you've got."

Sakura couldn't help but smirk, "Well, I have a lot of secrets that I haven't even shared with the siblings yet."

Shishio enthusiastically said, "We can show the other villages that we're the strongest, right, Koji?"

Koji, another boy their age, joined the conversation. He had messy dark blond hair and violet eyes, with bangs framing his right eye. He was dressed in a light violet shoulder top paired with a brown vest with a pocket on one side and an attached scroll on the other. The vest also displayed Kōji's forehead protector at the back. He wore black gloves, dark blue shorts, and long, open-toed black boots.

Koji waved to Sakura and spoke with a friendly tone, "Hey, Sakura. Sorry for the past when we were kids. We're Shinobi of the Sand now, which means we're friends and teammates by default. You can count on me to always have your back."

Holding back her emotions, Sakura nodded at them and said, "Yeah, by the way, here's your Chunin exam slip."

Koji beamed with gratitude and replied, "Awesome, thanks. Ameno, come and get your slip from Sakura."

"Coming," replied Ameno cheerfully. As she approached, Sakura couldn't help but notice her striking appearance. Ameno had long brown hair that elegantly framed her face, complemented by fair skin and enchanting light-brown eyes that highlighted her long eyelashes. She kept her hair in a ponytail secured with a pink hair band. Ameno's white collared and sleeveless outfit bore the Suna crest on the right side, a red-violet sash, and a brown cord. She also wore black shorts and had two forehead protectors creatively attached to her wrists. Her open-toed brown shinobi boots with laces added a final touch to her unique style.

Sakura handed her the participant slip and whispered, "Here."

Ameno accepted the slip with the most enchanting smile gracing her face. "Thank you, Sakura. We look forward to seeing you in the exams."

Next, Sakura reached the Sunagakure gymnasium to locate another team. She spotted a familiar face, one of the guys who had attacked her. However, the other two team members were younger than him and seemed uninvolved in his previous bullying endeavors. The male's name was Mijin, and he had long, lustrous black hair with light undertones matched with dark, intense eyes. A Sunagakure forehead protector adorned his forehead, bearing two purple markings: one extending over his eyes to the back of his head and the other on his chin.

Mijin snatched the participation slips from Sakura's hand, enthusiastically waved them to the two other boys on his team, and exclaimed, "Hey, Sajin, Mujin, we've got our exam slips!"

Her face adorned with a shy expression, Sakura responded, "You're welcome..."

Mijin dashed over to Sajin, the boy with long brown hair that featured two distinct bangs falling over his forehead protector, creating a frame around his face. He sported an orange line across the bridge of his nose and wore a yellow scarf wrapped around his neck. His outfit was a dark shirt adorned with a grey triangular pattern and beige shorts. Bandages wrapped around his lower legs and arms, and black fingerless gloves completed his ensemble. After securing his slip, Mijin passed it to Mujin, who had short, spiky brown hair. A blue Sunagakure forehead protector marked his allegiance, while grey, metal-like eye and ear coverings added to his unique appearance. Two green markings on his face started below his eyes and extended down, creating a distinctive look. Blushing, Mujin waved to Sakura and said, "Thanks for bringing this to us."

Sakura nodded and said, "Yeah, I'll be seeing you guys tomorrow. Good luck with your training today."

Moving on to the next group, Sakura could locate them quickly since she knew them very well. One of the boys, Shira, was another kid who had been bullied for being the new kid in Sunagakure and for his inability to use any form of jutsu. Like Sakura, he was forbidden to enter the Academy. Instead, he had quietly dedicated himself to training in taijutsu on the rock formations along the village walls for years. Gaara had noticed the destruction he had caused but, instead of scolding him, had taken him under his wing, training him in taijutsu in exchange for Shira's guidance. Sakura had never met him in person before.

Sakura caught up to him and teasingly remarked, "Hey, aren't you not supposed to be up here anymore?"

Shira turned to face Sakura, revealing a relatively tall young man with a fit physique. He had light skin and sported spiky taupe-grey hair combed backward, except for two bangs. Several scars marred his body and face, adding an air of age and experience. One prominent scar ran vertically across his throat, and he bore what appeared to be a tattoo of a blue-colored dragon on his right shoulder. His attire consisted of a long, sleeveless dark green shirt cinched with a light green sash, grey pants, and black arm braces. His forehead protector was attached to the bottom of his shirt, and bandages wrapped around his right biceps. Shira also wore a small amber magatama necklace.

Shira replied, "Hey, Sakura, thanks for bringing the slips over. We promise not to destroy the rock formations."

Sakura let out a relieved sigh and said, "That's a relief. It took us a long time to find someone to repair them."

As they chatted, one of Temari's old friends, Sen, approached with a curious expression. Sen had brown eyes with black pupils and sandy-brown hair tied in a ponytail, with two strands of hair on each side of her face and two braided strands. Like most Shinobi, she wore her forehead protector across her head. Her attire included a mesh armor bodysuit under a red tube dress with a blue-purple belt, fingerless gloves, shin guards, and black shinobi sandals. She also carried two small white fans with fur on them.

Walking beside Sen was her closest friend from the Academy, Yome. Yome had brown hair tied in two ponytails that curled at the ends. Like Sen, she wore her forehead protector around her forehead. Two blush marks adorned each side of her face; she had orange eyes with black pupils. Her outfit included sleeveless mesh armor under a tan overall top with grey elbow protectors. She wore light blue shorts, purple leg warmers, and black shinobi sandals.

After all these years, Sakura felt deeply grateful upon reuniting with her friends, but her reunion was brief, as she had another crucial meet-up on her schedule. After greeting all the Genin groups from the Academy, Sakura had wanted to catch up with Mikoshi and Yukata for a while. She found them as they returned from a mission together and decided this was the perfect opportunity for a heart-to-heart conversation with them. Sakura strode up to them, a friendly smile on her face. They were slightly surprised but welcoming.

Mikoshi was the first to speak, "Hey, Sakura! Long time no see!"

Yukata added, "Yeah, it's been ages. What brings you here?"

Sakura glanced around to ensure they were relatively alone before answering, "I wanted to talk to you two, and I didn't want any interruptions."

Curiosity piqued, Mikoshi and Yukata exchanged glances before Mikoshi spoke, "Sure, Sakura, what's on your mind?"

Sakura started, "I wanted to say that I don't blame you for following Temari's orders back then, and I'm not mad at you. I know you were just doing what you thought was right."

Mikoshi and Yukata both looked relieved to hear this and thanked her for understanding.

Sakura then leaned in and lowered her voice, "But there's something else I want to share with you. I had a dream. I saw the one-tailed beast inside a massive pyramid temple. I think I spotted it on our way back from Konohagakure. I want to find it."

Mikoshi and Yukata were taken aback by this revelation. They had known Sakura for a long time and knew that her dreams were often significant. Yukata spoke up, "Are you sure about this, Sakura? It sounds dangerous."

Sakura nodded, unwavering and determined, "I am, and I don't want to go alone. Will you come with me? I need your help to find it."

Mikoshi and Yukata exchanged determined glances. Mikoshi nodded, "We're with you, Sakura. Let's go find that pyramid temple."Sakura said, "Perfect, we will go tonight."

By late evening, she returned to the Kazekage's office and spotted Kankuro and Gaara on the rooftop. They were engaged in yet another heated argument about the plans for the exams, even though Sakura had already told Kankuro it was futile. He seemed unwilling to let it go.

Joining them during their conversation, Gaara said, "I'll oversee the second round finals to ensure no fatalities occur during the test."

Kankuro, infuriated, waved his arms around and exclaimed, "What will you achieve by smoking out the rebels?"

Gaara calmly responded, "It's not like that."

Kankuro demanded, "Then what? Why are you going so far as to face danger head-on?"

Gaara turned to face the sun, fading away over his beautiful village's borders. He deeply breathed and replied, "My feelings haven't changed since then."

Kankuro raised his voice, "Don't tell me you want to bond with the rebels. That's impossible! Even if you are up for it, they won't listen."

Gaara explained, "He is... Naruto is working hard to forge bonds with others. So, I will try it, too, when the day comes when I can share suffering, sadness, and happiness with others. I consider this my first test as the Kazekage of Sunagakure."

Sakura had overheard Gaara and Kankuro deep in conversation for quite a while. As her stomach grumbled loudly, she decided it was time to intervene. She approached the two brothers and said, "I hate to interrupt, but I think we could all use a break and some dinner."

Gaara and Kankuro glanced at her, and Kankuro scratched his head, acknowledging the truth in her words. "Yeah, you're right, Sakura. I could use a break."

Gaara nodded. "Let's go home and eat something."

Sakura led the way as they walked back to their residence. When they reached their home, they were greeted by the delicious aroma of a home-cooked meal.

Temari had taken the time to prepare a lovely dinner for the family. She smiled as they entered and said, "You're all back. Dinner is ready."

The four of them sat down together at the dining table, and Sakura couldn't help but feel a warm sense of belonging. She was no longer just a guest but part of this family now.

Temari turned to Sakura, her fork in hand, and asked, "Do you have all the exam participation slips?"

Sakura nodded, a satisfied smile on her face as she replied, "Yes, everyone has their slips. It's amazing; today was quite an eventful day. Even your friends Ameno and Yome are taking part."

Temari's eyes lit up with joy as she exclaimed, "That's fantastic! I'm thrilled they've decided to give the exams a shot. I'm looking forward to proctoring the first exam with Shikamaru."

"Ameno and Yome, you see, they've teamed up with one of Kankuro's old friends, Sen. We had a conversation, and he told me that he's left his childish behavior behind. Now, he's dedicated to safeguarding the village," Sakura explained.

Kankuro looked up from his plate, his curiosity piqued. "We rarely interact with them unless it's related to a mission or something like that."

Sakura affirmed, "They've changed. Even the ones who used to target me when I walked through the village have apologized and committed to working as a team with me. It just goes to show that people can indeed change."

Gaara listened thoughtfully, contemplating the concept of personal transformation. "People can evolve, and it can be quite surprising."

Temari dished up a bowl of rice for Sakura and remarked, "I recall Kankuro's friends used to be a group of obnoxious assholes. I'm relieved you won't have to deal with that anymore."

After they finished their meals, they all headed to their rooms to prepare for bed. The upcoming weeks were to be incredibly challenging. Sakura opted for comfortable yet discreet attire, donning soft, fitted yoga pants and a black tank top. She didn't want to make it too apparent that she planned to sneak out that night. Sakura rolled over in bed, and Kankuro, who didn't appear sleepy yet, turned his attention to her. She ran her fingers through his brown hair and softly pleaded, "Please, try to sleep tonight. Gaara is going to be relying on you this week." 

Kankuro nodded and asked, "Will you sing to me like you used to? I love it when you sing to me."

Sakura smiled warmly, rubbing Kankuro's head affectionately, and agreed, "Of course, my love."

In the silence of their small bedroom, Sakura began to sing a lullaby about the smooth sands of the desert, which gently blew in the wind, comforting humankind and keeping them safe. She painted a vivid picture of her home in perfect detail, describing the colors of the sea of sand that matched the sunset. As she sang, Kankuro gradually succumbed to her gentle sleeping jutsu, and she whispered, "Goodnight, Puppet Master Kankuro."

With a tender kiss on his cheek, Sakura quietly got up and arranged some pillows beside Kankuro to trick his body into thinking she was still there. This was the perfect opportunity for an escape. Sakura gracefully leaped out of their home's window and sprinted as far as the wind could carry her.

Amid the shadows of Suna, scorpions had emerged, hungry for anything that thrived in the cold desert nights. Sakura moved stealthily around the buildings, seeking refuge from their sight. However, the creatures seemed everywhere, roaming the streets and scaling the walls.

Sakura clasped her hands and wondered, "If my lullaby can work on people, I wonder how much it can affect insects, too." She gently touched her heart and sang a soft lullaby to the eerie night crawlers.

The creatures lay still, some on their backs with curled legs, while others huddled into tight balls, slumbering on the sandy ground. In one way or another, all of them had succumbed to sleep. As Sakura approached the village entrance, her team awaited her.

Mikoshi adjusted his glasses atop his nose and inquired, "Which direction are we heading?"

Sakura pointed north, reassured, "I'll lead the way, so all you have to do is follow."

Yukata asked, "Is this the right time for us to do this? The Kazekage could strip us of our Shinobi titles if he discovers our actions."

Sakura whispered, "Stay calm. Everything will go as planned as long as you follow my lead. Understood?"

Mikoshi nodded firmly, "I'm not afraid of the endless sea of sand; the Land of Wind is our home. I'm ready."

Yukata sighed and reluctantly agreed, "I can't change your minds, so I'll follow to ensure my teammates' safety."

Sakura guided her team in a single file, drawing closer to the narrow walkway gate leading out of the village. Two guards stood watch, one protecting the village's interior and the other ensuring no suspicious individuals or criminals entered. As Sakura sang her lullaby, she watched them succumb to exhaustion, dropping to their knees.

One of the guards, struggling to stay awake, mumbled, "Who's singing?"

Another guard stated, "It's a jutsu."

Soon, they fell to the floor, unconscious. Sakura gestured for her team to follow her as they proceeded through the narrow tunnel, each keeping a hand on the wall, tracing their way around the village.

Somehow, their movement kept them hidden from the night's lurking creatures. The desert was engulfed in pitch-black darkness, and nothing except the wall beside them could be seen. They continued their silent trek for hours until their eyes gradually adjusted to the dim light.

Sakura suddenly perked up upon hearing the distant sounds of water and whispered, "Hey, I hear water."

Barely above a murmur, Mikoshi responded, "How is that possible? The oasis isn't anywhere near here."

"No," Sakura countered, "In my peculiar dream, the pyramid temple was surrounded by a moat. It means we're getting closer."

Yukata, her fear palpable, whimpered, "Sakura, I'm scared. It's so dark out here."

Sakura reassured her, "Stay close, we'll be fine."

The Shinobi followed the sounds of water until they reached its edge. Sakura extended her arms to ensure her teammates didn't inadvertently fall in and nodded. The surroundings were shrouded in darkness, but the moat below them was even darker. Sakura peered into the abyss, where something was splashing and swimming around more than six feet below. Mikoshi threw a kunai at a lizard he had spotted and deftly caught it. He casually dropped the captured lizard into the water, resulting in a quiet splash followed by a flurry of commotion as creatures below snapped at their unexpected meal.

Mikoshi chuckled and remarked, "Ahuh, we have alligators here."

Feeling unsettled, Yukata inquired, "How do you know that?"

"It doesn't smell like salt, so the water is fresh," he sniffed.

Yukata shivered nervously and asked, "How will we cross this?"

Sakura pointed to the stone bridge to their right and explained, "I crossed that bridge in my dream, but we have to be careful not to fall off the edge."

Mikoshi proposed, "The best way to handle this situation is to hold hands."

"It's like we're already in the exams," Yukata giggled.

Taking the lead, Sakura held Mikoshi's hand, and Mikoshi, in turn, held Yukata's hand. With deliberate and cautious steps, they crossed the stone bridge that led them to the tall, narrow entrance of the pyramid temple. Sakura took a deep breath and stepped into the dimly lit interior. Her teammates followed suit, moving slowly into the darkness.

As they entered the room, it was suddenly illuminated by small torches mounted on all four walls. Intriguing black cursed symbols adorned the walls and the very floor beneath their feet. However, the most notable absence was that of Shukaku. Sakura ventured further into the chamber, allowing herself to absorb the sights surrounding her. Random flashbacks of her past and seemingly prophetic glimpses into her future as a Jinchuriki started flooding her mind. Her head throbbed, and in her agony, Sakura let out a piercing scream. Shukaku's voice echoed within her thoughts, but his message remained a mystery.

Mikoshi shouted, "Hey, are you okay? What's happening?"

"What can we do? We have to help her. You need to do something, Mikoshi!"

The cacophonous voice of the beast drove Sakura to her knees. She was the sole recipient of his words in her mind. Struggling to block out the noise, Sakura covered her ears as a tempest of sand swirled around her. Her eyes rapidly transformed, shifting from red to orange, ultimately settling on the piercing, luminous yellow of Shukaku's gaze. The quicksand consumed her, pulling her under until nothing remained of her on the surface.