Chapter 26: Honorable Grandmother

Exiting the opened cavern, the duo caught the echoes of explosions emanating from the west of their location. Sakura turned her head in that direction and remarked, "That might be where Naruto is facing off against Deidara. He still has Gaara. We need to catch up with them."

Supported by her student's weight, they approached the forest. Granny Chiyo observed the determined expression on Sakura's face and nodded, commenting, "You care a lot about him, don't you?"

Sakura chuckled warmly, sharing a childhood memory, "Gaara and I used to play every day in secret, but somehow, his uncle would always manage to find us, no matter how well we thought we were hiding."

Curious, Granny Chiyo inquired, "And what happened after Yashamaru died?"

Sakura reflected on the past, "He pushed me away because he was afraid he would hurt me again. But even before I fully understood anything about tailed beasts, I assured him that I would become the next Jinchuriki to set him free. Can I tell you a secret?"

Granny Chiyo nodded knowingly, stating, "Depends on the secret; I hope it's nothing I'll have to inform our elders about."

Sakura sighed and began to share, "During the Chunin exams, Gaara watched me to ensure my safety. However, a monk from our village attacked us, seeking to kill Gaara and take Shukaku for themselves. It was a dangerous situation; he could have lost his life."

Granny Chiyo's expression darkened as she responded, "I heard he stuck to his decision and refused to listen to reason. His siblings warned him of the consequences, but not even you could change his mind."

Sakura whimpered, "He wanted the Akatsuki to come and end his life because he believed the world would be better off without him. You should have seen him, Granny Chiyo. He didn't even fight back."

"I'm sorry, Sakura. His suffering was no one's fault but my own," Granny Chiyo sighed.

"No," Sakura replied, her frown deepening, "Rasa tore a hole in his heart."

Their attention momentarily shifted to Naruto and his team in the forest, recognizing the improved atmosphere. Kakashi had succeeded in calming Naruto.

"Is everyone okay?" Sakura inquired.

Kakashi responded, "Yes, but we still have trouble with Deidara. He escaped by distracting us with a clay clone, and now we can't figure out where he is."

Sakura panicked, "What about Gaara?"

Naruto pointed to the base of a nearby tree where two of his shadow clones were holding onto Gaara. He explained, "I cut the head off that clay bird so he couldn't fly away with him."

"Thank you, Naruto," Sakura whispered appreciatively.

Kakashi then inquired, "Did you defeat Sasori?"

Granny Chiyo nodded, reflecting satisfaction as she replied, "We accomplished what we came here to do."

In the distance, the team turned their heads, drawn by the sounds of metal clashing, their curiosity piqued by the ongoing battle.

In a calm tone, Sakura remarked, "That must be Might Guy's team."

Kakashi nodded, adjusting the microphone in his ear, and cautioned, "Be careful, everyone; he's a long-range type who uses explosives."

Deidara gracefully descended from the tree branches into their line of sight, landing next to his headless clay bird sprawled on the ground. Mighty Guy's team stood resolute, prepared for any move Deidara might make. With a smirk, Deidara took a substantial bite into his headless clay bird, chewing on the clay as he declared, "I'll show you my ultimate work of art."

Consuming the clay, his body expanded and contorted, assuming a grotesque form. His cheeks swelled as he smirked and scowled at his adversaries, fully aware that this was his final move, culminating in his ultimate performance.

With his Byakugan activated, Neji shouted, "Get back quickly, everyone!"

Sakura positioned herself behind a tree, cradling Gaara tightly in her arms. She deftly manipulated walls of sand to shield the rescue team. In response to Neji's warning, Might Guy's team hurried behind Sakura's handcrafted shelter just as she solidified the sand barrier.

Sakura's urgent cry resonated, "Everyone, my shield can only hold up for so long. Run while you still can."

"Art is explosive!" Deidara declared, triggering the explosion within his own body.

As flames engulfed everything around her, Sakura clung to the tree, resigned to meet her end in the fiery inferno. A solitary tear traced a path down her cheek, thoughts of the people she cherished flooding her mind. Kankuro's grief for losing both his girlfriend and younger brother pierced her heart, though she took solace in the fact that he still had his sister.

In a soft, apologetic whisper, Sakura uttered, "I'm sorry, everyone. I couldn't possibly imagine a life without Gaara. I don't have the heart to return to Kankuro and tell him I lost the baby. Please forgive me, Shukaku."

Suddenly, Naruto reached for Sakura's arm, like an angel descending from the heavens. Summoning his shadow clones, he swiftly picked up Gaara while pulling Sakura away from the impending blast by her wrist. The rescue team sprinted through the trees, reaching open terrain to catch their breath. The explosion was contained within the forest as the trees absorbed the brunt of the impact, and Sakura's sand gracefully crumbled back to the earth.

Somehow, Sakura clung to life, yet in her heart, she yearned to join Gaara in the next world.

After everyone safely escaped the explosions, a cloud of dust erupted from the forest, unleashing a horrid wind nearly knocking them off their feet. In the ensuing silence, Naruto and his shadow clones frowned in Sakura's direction. Uninterested in arguing, she kept her gaze averted.

"Hey," Naruto yelled, "That explosion could have killed you."

Refusing to make eye contact with anyone, Sakura explained, "I was giving the team time to escape while using my jutsu to shield everyone. I didn't have time to escape with the rest of you."

"Stop lying. You wanted that explosion to end your life," Naruto argued. "Did you stop to think how that would make any of your friends feel?"

Kakashi glared at him and said, "Naruto, that's enough."

"No, I want to know why," Naruto persisted.

Sakura curled into a ball, leaning on Gaara's cold corpse as she wept. No one judged her except for Naruto, who questioned her attempt to take her own life. The space between everyone became awkwardly quiet. Granny Chiyo kneeled beside Sakura and rubbed her back, acknowledging the undeniable devastation of her loss.

"Gaara and I were inseparable. Now that he's gone, I'll be the next Kazekage, and Kankuro will be my Advisor. My life would be a constant reminder of what Gaara missed out on. I don't want to go through that."

"If you don't want to be Kazekage, tell your elders to shove it," Naruto suggested.

Neji knelt by her side and began, "As you already know, I am a Hyuga, a member of the clan's branch house. I was born to serve the Hyuga main household, and if I didn't, I'd be severely punished."

Curious, Sakura asked, "Punished how?"

Neji removed his Shinobi headband, revealing a colored curse mark across his forehead with an 'X' at the center. He explained, "When I was young, my uncle Hiashi branded me with this customary cursed seal. My life felt like I was a bird trapped in a cage for the rest of my days. If my father or I disobeyed my destiny, Hiashi would activate the seal, causing me tremendous pain."

Shocked, Sakura placed her palm over her mouth and gasped, "I had no idea; I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. Naruto, of all people, taught me that I can choose who I want to be. My fate would be my choice. That's why I decided to continue my path as a Shinobi. Don't allow the elders in your village to cage you like a bird, or else you'll be miserable for the rest of your life and die with regrets," Neji advised.

"Thank you, Neji," Sakura expressed.

"Well, I'm glad we didn't lose you, too," Kakashi remarked. "Is everyone else okay now?"

The team silently nodded to one another, and Sakura chose to spend as much time as possible with Gaara. Changing her mind did not alter the past. He was gone, and he was never coming back. It was the last opportunity to embrace him, to touch his messy red hair and gaze into his handsome skylight eyes. At this moment, she would do anything to hear his voice again. Sakura silently whimpered on Gaara's chest, knowing she would never hear his heartbeat again. Her trembling hands touched his cold, unmoving face, tracing the contours of someone she cared for deeply. Tears streamed down her face, leaving glistening trails on her cheeks as she leaned over him.

Her sobs resonated with profound sadness, the weight of loss and the pain of knowing she couldn't bring him back, settling heavily on her heart. Sakura's body quivered as she clutched Gaara's still form, her fingers intertwining with his lifeless ones. The world around her seemed to blur as she let the depth of her grief consume her.

In that poignant moment, enveloped by the echoes of battle and the haunting stillness of death, Sakura's cries became a raw, emotional expression of the profound love and connection she shared with Gaara. Each sob carried the weight of heartbreak, aching for the presence that was now forever absent. The forest bore witness to the symphony of her grief. Everyone respectfully lowered their heads and furrowed their brows, conveying their deepest sympathies for her profound loss. Sniffling, Sakura positioned herself on her legs, delicately laying Gaara's head on her thighs. She tenderly caressed his hair and kissed him on the forehead. Gaara had genuinely loved Sakura with every ounce of his heart.

Tears streaming down his face, Naruto approaches them, fixing his gaze on Gaara's lifeless face. He clenched his fist and shouted, "Why did he have to die like that? He just became the Kazekage, for fuck's sake."

"Calm down, Naruto Uzumaki," Granny Chiyo calmly replied.

Naruto swiftly turned around to face Granny Chiyo, tears pouring down his face like rain. Defensively, he yelled, "Shut up. This wouldn't have happened if you and Shinobi hadn't put a monster inside Gaara. Did you even ask Gaara at all about how he felt?"

Sakura ceased whimpering and quietly said, "Don't speak to her like that, Naruto. Don't blame the village for the wrongs of the Fourth Kazekage. He wanted his son to be a Jinchuriki for purposes of war and destruction. We didn't want that."

Tightly closing his eyelids, Naruto sobbed as he turned away from them. He said, "Jinchuriki, my ass. You've no right to act so important by labeling us with that word you created. I can't save Sasuke, and I can't save Gaara. I trained so hard for three years; nothing has changed since three years ago."

Granny Chiyo quietly limped past Naruto, who sobbed into his right arm. Her pace was purposeful, suggesting she had a specific goal in mind. He ceased crying, staring at her with the most sorrowful look in her eyes as she approached.

With swollen, tearful eyes, Sakura wiped her face and asked, "Granny Chiyo, what are you doing?"

The old, retired, honored grandmother did not respond to her pupil. Instead, she kneeled to see Gaara's head gracefully resting on Sakura's thighs. Placing her hand on his chest, her chakra raged like a fire around them.

Sakura yelled, "Granny, that jutsu will kill you."

Granny Chiyo lifted her head to Sakura and smiled.

Naruto stepped forward, attempting to stop her, and asked, "Hey, what are you doing?"

The wind blew through Sakura Haruno's pink hair as she raised her arm to halt Naruto from advancing. She precisely understood Granny Chiyo's intentions. In exchange for her own life, she aimed to rewrite the wrongs she had done.

Naruto frowned and asked, "Sakura, what?"

Without hesitation, she fixed him with a deadly glare, expressing profound sorrow and an understanding of Granny Chiyo's imperative role as the village elder hidden in the sand. Firmly, she stated, "Granny Chiyo will bring Gaara back to life."

Her words sent chills down his spine as he questioned, "Are you serious? Is that possible?"

The princess of the sand, Sakura of the Kazekage Clan, responded, "Granny Chiyo is the only one, aside from myself, who possesses this unique jutsu. She taught me years ago, hoping I'd never have to use it someday."

As her vision blurred, Granny Chiyo grunted in agonizing pain, beginning to fade away. It would have been all for nothing if she passed out before completing the jutsu. Groaning, she expressed, "I don't have enough Chakra."

Upon their arrival, over a hundred Shinobi from Sunagakure surrounded them, moving deliberately and maturely. Sakura had begun to notice their presence but hadn't realized Temari and Kankuro were standing behind her. In her weakened state, Granny Chiyo couldn't see the family that had come to watch her say her final goodbyes, including her brother, Ebizo. They quietly listened to the conversation, eager to understand what they had missed while on the way to rescue Gaara.

With her chakra flickering like a flame about to go out, Granny Chiyo's hands were the source of the diminishing energy. Sakura gently laid Gaara's head on the warm grass and knelt across from Granny Chiyo. She placed her hands over the fading chakra, supplying her with massive amounts of flowing energy.

Granny Chiyo gasped, "Sakura, what are you doing? How is this possible?"

Sakura smiled warmly and replied, "When Gaara's mother passed away after childbirth, you used to come to the fourth Kazekage household to provide dinner every night for the siblings. After Gaara lost control, Shukaku threw me off that roof, and we thought my chakra was blocked permanently until you saved me. You ensured I did my physical therapy daily, no matter how much I complained. And when my sister was killed in Konoha, you helped me find the Hyuga clan to unblock my chakra. I had no one left until Gaara and his siblings invited me to live with them. Every night, you supported us, knowing we were a household of crazy orphans."

Granny Chiyo said, "I don't understand. Why are you bringing that up now?"

Sakura sniffled and said, "Because you've already paid for the mistakes you've made in the past. Shukaku came to me and lent me his chakra, so let me help you."

Granny Chiyo's eyes widened, "He did what?"

Kakashi asked, "Did you say Shukaku? The one-tailed beast who was extracted from Gaara. How was that possible?"

"I couldn't answer that, but it might have had something to do with an old relative who happened to be the Third Kazekage."

In the vast field, the onlookers stood in stunned silence, absorbing every detail of Sakura's revelations. She continued to share how Shukaku had been silently watching over her family for years, enabling her to wield massive amounts of chakra without exhaustion, akin to Kakashi's use of the Sharingan.

Addressing Granny Chiyo directly, Sakura spoke, "Gaara was forbidden to go outside, yet every day, he managed to meet me at our secret hiding spots across the village. Until the day he was kidnapped, he refused to disclose how he escaped his uncle's watchful eyes. He always told me that I would someday learn how he did it. Was that your doing? Despite the oppressive politics surrounding us, we found happiness, much to Kankuro's dismay. But in the end, he won me over fair and square."

Granny Chiyo smiled and replied, "In this Shinobi world, crafted by us foolish old people, being a part of your life was one of the greatest pleasures after the mistakes I made in the past. But up until my last hour, it seems I shall finally be able to do right by you and Gaara. It was an honor to fight by your side, princess of the sand."

The color in Granny Chiyo's eyes faded away, and her blue chakra flames extinguished. She fell back into Ebizo's arms, who cradled her gently as tears trickled down his cheek, expressing all the love in the world for his sister.

Temari gently kissed Sakura's forehead and whispered, "You did well, Sakura."

With tears streaming down her face, Sakura looked at Temari with relief and murmured, "She's gone..."

"She did what she believed was best given the circumstances," Temari replied, placing a comforting hand on Sakura's shoulder and offering a gentle smile.

Sakura's eyes rolled to the back of her head as she collapsed backward. In a swift move, Kankuro caught her in his arms just before the back of her head could touch the floor. Panicking, he exclaimed, "Hey, she passed out. What happened out there?"

Kakashi calmly explained, "She fought Sasori and, with Lady Chiyo's assistance, managed to defeat him. I'm unsure of the details, but it was an extraordinary battle. She even destroyed the cavern they fought in throughout the day."

Temari carefully lifted Sakura's bloody Yukata crop top, revealing a fresh scar at the center below her ribcage, and checked the two puncture wounds on her thighs. She observed the injuries and remarked, "It must have been one hell of a fight. She was stabbed all the way through, and these injection wounds... vials of antidotes, perhaps."

Kankuro's expression soured a sense of disappointment in himself, which was evident on his face. He whimpered, "This is my fault. I should have insisted more that you stay with me in the village. We need a Medical Shinobi to check on you."

Sakura gently opened her eyes and responded, "Don't blame yourself, Kankuro. When Sasori was spouting nonsense, I made sure to let him know that you were still alive. The satisfaction of revenge was almost worth the risk of my life."

Kankuro laid his head on hers and vowed, "I won't let you out of my sight again."

Moments later, Gaara flickered his eyes slightly ajar. With shock in his widened eyes, he gazed back at Sakura, her face swollen red like his hair. She reassured him, "Gaara, you're okay now."

Gaara sat up, weakly replying, "Sakura...."

Naruto placed his hand on Gaara's shoulder, and Gaara looked up at him with amazement. For the first time, he was surrounded by people who genuinely cared about him. The Chunin and Jonin cheered enthusiastically while some grown men discreetly wiped tears from their sleeves.

With a bright smile, Kankuro leaned on Sakura and teased, "Good grief, you're such a bothersome little brother making us worry like that."

Temari frowned and scolded, "What's with you guys acting so arrogant? Gaara is the Kazekage, you know. Show some respect. You're nothing but subordinates."

Sakura chuckled and added, "Yeah, he's Lord Kazekage, the lot of you."

Kankuro and Naruto exchanged glares with the girls, who seemed to be enforcing old traditional rules that no one truly cared about.

Gaara attempted to rise, but the pain was evident, and Temari gently guided him back to the grass. "Take it easy; your body hasn't fully healed yet," she advised.

Unable to stand, Gaara followed his sister's advice, sitting back down. Squinting and panting, he struggled to adjust to being brought back to life after experiencing death. Sakura knelt beside him, offering a gentle hug, and playfully suggested, "When we get back, we should talk about a raise for me, considering everything I've done for you, Lord Kazekage."

A male Jonin in the background sighed in relief, "Thank the heavens; I thought Lord Kazekage might be a goner."

A female Chunin smacked him and exclaimed, "There's no way Lord Gaara would kick the bucket that easily. Gaara is reserved, calm, strong, handsome, an elite..."

Another female Chunin, blushing, added, "Yes, yes, but he's still kind of cute somehow, and yet, he is the Kazekage..."

The first female Chunin punched the male Jonin aside, determined to approach Gaara with her friend, declaring, "This time, I'll show them that I can protect Lord Gaara in a crisis."

Her friend shoved her, retorting, "No, I will."

The two began bickering over who would reach Gaara first, pushing Naruto and Sakura out of the way. An irritated Sakura glared at them and warned, "Both of you will face severe consequences when we return to the village. Pushing the Kazekage's Advisor is a serious offense."

Temari chuckled and teased, "Are you feeling jealous, Sakura?"

Sakura crossed her arms, frowning, and retorted, "Why would I be jealous of young Chunin girls when I'm in a relationship with Kankuro?"

Lying on the ground, Naruto mumbled quietly, "Come to think of it, I am still a Genin."

Kankuro enveloped Sakura in a comforting embrace, attempting to lift her spirits. "Don't be so down. It's a well-known fact that women are drawn to the cool, elite types. Right, Sakura?" he teased.

Blushing, Sakura delivered a playful hit and retorted, "Shut up."

Standing up, Naruto said, "I think Shikamaru said something like that, too."

Sakura chuckled, glancing at Temari. "Oh?"

Temari growled, "Shut it."

Naruto continued with a smile, "That old lady saved Gaara's life with that cool jutsu she used. She got tired out, and she's resting now, but when she returns to the village, she'll be back in good health."

Sakura frowned and corrected, "She's not resting, Naruto."

A hush fell over the crowd as they paid their respects to Granny Chiyo, cradled in Ebizo's arms. Once excited, the female Chunin joined the somber atmosphere, glancing towards Granny Chiyo. Naruto broke the silence.

Kankuro lifted his head, offering a sympathetic look to Ebizo. He felt remorse for Granny Chiyo, recognizing her significant role in their lives. Turning to Sakura, Kankuro asked, "She used it, didn't she?"

Naruto's expression turned solemn as he questioned, "What are you talking about?"

Sakura lowered her head, delivering the heavy news, "The jutsu Granny Chiyo used drained her of all her chakra, and she placed it inside Gaara. Granny Chiyo is dead."

Confusion and despair etched Naruto's face, and he whimpered, "What do you mean?"

Sakura explained, "It's a ninjutsu to bring a dead person back to life in exchange for your own."

Kankuro's eyes welled with tears as he added his somber knowledge, "At one time, in the Sand Puppet Unit, they were researching a jutsu that could bring puppets to life. Granny Chiyo led the project. They succeeded in developing the jutsu in theory, but halfway, they decided the risks were too great. Before it reached the stage of human experiments, it was designated as a Forbidden Jutsu and sealed."

Silently, Naruto lifted himself off the ground, fixated on Granny Chiyo's body. She rested against her brother as if in a peaceful slumber.

Ebizo commented, "She looks like she could start laughing at any minute. Her face looks so peaceful."

Tears streamed down Sakura's face as she nodded, whispering, "Yes, she does."

Temari turned toward Naruto and said, "Granny Chiyo always said she didn't care about the village's future. She was not the kind of person to do such a thing for Gaara. She entrusted the future to Gaara, Sakura, and you. Her death was befitting for a wise shinobi."

Gaara attempted to stand alone, brushing away the helping hands of the female Sand Shinobi crowding around him.

"It's okay, I'm fine," he assured them.

Before Gaara could falter, Naruto swiftly snatched his arm, supporting him. Together, they moved forward to pay their respects to Granny Chiyo.

Gaara said, "Everyone, let us pray for Granny Chiyo."

One by one, heads bowed and eyes closed, creating a moment of mourning for one of the greatest Shinobi the village hidden in the sand had ever known.