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."

Gaara skillfully manipulated his sand to surge upward and pursue the elusive girls, but their agility proved too formidable. They swiftly split in different directions, forcing Gaara and his allies to follow suit. Gaara propelled himself into the air using his sand, with Sakura perched gracefully upon it, trailing after Ranke. Meanwhile, Kankuro embarked on the chase, shadowing Kamira's movements.

Gaara stood beside Sakura, facing Ranke with confidence. They were a formidable force as a couple, and Gaara had no doubts about the battle ahead. In the improved lighting, Sakura could see the details of Ranke's appearance - white skin, blonde frilled hair, and piercing light-violet eyes, matching her burgundy armor. They locked eyes with Ranke, who seemed desperate for a kill.

Ranke taunted as the walls crumbled around them, saying, "I hope you know what you're getting yourselves into."

Sakura responded unwaveringly, "Oh, we can handle it."

Ranke moved her arms, conjuring lightning from her palms, and exclaimed, "Tornado Lightning!" The lightning coalesced into a swirling tornado-like form and hurtled toward them. Gaara remained calm and collected, using his sand to block the incoming attack. While Gaara protected them from the lightning, Ranke struck the ceiling above them, causing debris to rain. Gaara looked up in shock, but Sakura skillfully played her Shamisen like an electric guitar, using soundwaves to disperse the falling debris. Gaara formed a protective hollow orb to shield them from potential secret attacks while the dust settled.

Once visibility was restored, Gaara waited for an opportunity and shouted, "Sand Shower!" Beams of sand shot out from the orb as Ranke closed in on his position. She demonstrated incredible agility, evading the sand attacks with handstands and leaping from one location to another. Sakura, growing frustrated, intensified her Shamisen playing to unleash powerful sound waves in Ranke's direction. However, Ranke proved equally adept at dodging these sonic assaults.

Using her lightning abilities, Ranke erected a protective barrier around herself as the combined attacks were overwhelming. When the onslaught ceased, she smirked and taunted, "What's wrong? Don't you want to play?"

Ranke struck the ground with her fist, creating lightning strikes that crackled through the cracks, hurtling toward Gaara and Sakura. Panic set in as Sakura attempted to counteract the electric onslaught with her sound waves, but Ranke's electromagnetic waves proved far more potent, causing part of Gaara's defense to crumble. Seizing the opportunity, Ranke leaped inside Gaara's defense from above.

Reacting quickly, Sakura positioned herself before Gaara, amplifying her sound waves with his defense. Despite their combined efforts, Ranke continued to dodge their attacks with agility, managing to leap over Sakura and strike Gaara with a powerful spell. Her voice resonated as she called out, "Thunder Saber."

The lightning strike struck Gaara forcefully, sending him tumbling through the wall behind him. Gaara managed to hold onto a nearby pipe despite the impact, preventing himself from falling further. Ranke gracefully leaped out of the hole she had created in the large pipe, flicking her hair back and tauntingly remarking, "That was easy."

Sakura clenched her teeth, determination etched across her face as she stood behind Ranke with her Shamisen at the ready. She cried out defiantly, "I will not be underestimated by the likes of you."

In a swift motion, Sakura cartwheeled to the edge of the opening in the wall they had created. She unleashed a powerful sonic wave resonating with her instrument through the air. Then, she began singing a potent song filled with anger and resolve. Ranke caught off guard, desperately covered her bleeding ears with her hands and let out a piercing scream. Overwhelmed by the agonizing pain, she dropped to her knees, unable to maintain her composure.

Seeing Ranke immobilized, Gaara took swift action. His sand, like serpentine tendrils, shot out towards Ranke. The sand enveloped her, starting from her ankles and rapidly seizing her wrists. She struggled in vain to break free, but her strength significantly diminished.

With a calculated move, Gaara extended his arm before him and clenched his fist, commanding, "Sand Burial."

The sand surrounding Ranke began to swirl and constrict around her, consuming her form entirely. Once the sand solidified, Sakura hurried over to Gaara, concern evident in her voice as she called out, "Are you okay? That looked like it hurt."

"I'm not that easy to kill," Gaara said with a smirk. He leaned in and kissed her before continuing, "The sand received most of the damage, but it doesn't look like it's over yet."

Ranke's lightning attack shattered the hardened sand encasing her, and she began to transform. Her body contorted and expanded, morphing from a small girl into a hulking beast. In a deep, resonant tone, she declared, "You, bitch. I am not through with you yet."

Sakura clenched her teeth and tilted her head in disgust at the grotesque transformation. She commented, "That does not look attractive at all..."

Unimpressed by the transformation, Gaara remarked, "So you can increase your strength by altering the structure of your body."

Ranke's transformation was completed as she turned into a full-fledged Oni, towering over them. She charged towards them, prompting Gaara to unleash more sand while Sakura assaulted her with sonic waves.

Ranke, shielded by her lightning, retorted, "Useless! That won't work against my plasma ball."

Gaara turned his head to face Sakura and inquired, "Do you know how to make a clone yet?"

Sakura nodded hesitantly and replied, "Yeah, but it's not perfect."

Gaara reassured her, "I've got you covered. Just follow my lead."

As Ranke attempted to strike them with her lightning-charged fist, Gaara moved swiftly to create another sand shield, concealing them while he also formed two sand clones. He snatched her arm with a quick, coordinated effort and jumped down as discreetly as possible to the ground floor. They stood together by a metal staircase, observing the force of the wind sending their sand clones tumbling through pipes until they crashed onto the ground floor. Gaara's clone landed on a metal box structure over his gourd, while Sakura's clone landed awkwardly on the pipes with her back bent backward. Amidst the chaos, Ranke leaped down and landed in front of them, causing the metal beneath her to bend under the weight of her fall. She taunted, "Pathetic. Well, that takes care of that."

Gaara's sand replacement jutsu crumbled, but standing behind her on the metal stairs with Sakura, he smirked and taunted, "First time facing a Shinobi?"

Shocked, Ranke turned around and exclaimed, "What? You're still alive?"

Sakura tightly held onto Gaara's white sash as Gaara raised his arms, creating rapid winds that swirled around them. He clapped his palms together and confidently declared, "Sand Tsunami."

Sand poured into the room from all directions, engulfing Ranke and shattering the ship apart. After they safely leaped out of the ship's rubble, Ranke emerged with her lightning plasma still shielding her.

Sakura whined, "Why the fuck is she still alive? Such a stubborn bitch."

Ranke laughed and retorted, "I could say the same about you. Sound waves and sand are useless against my electricity."

Gaara smirked and confidently stated, "That is if you still have it. The sand lightning rod." He crossed his arms, manipulating the sand to surge upward like needles. The sand spikes branched out like miniature trees, and lightning arced from them, striking Ranke. He then placed his hands on the sand at his feet, commanding, "Giant sand burial." The sand engulfed her, crushing her deep underground.

Sakura groaned, "Please tell me it's over."

Gaara crossed his arms and began to walk away from the battle, remarking, "We should go find Kankuro."

Sakura nodded and replied, "Right, I hope he's okay."

The young couple strolled along the beach, and in front of them, Kankuro dragged himself out of the water, clearly in a foul mood. Sakura chuckled at him and asked, "What happened to you?"

Kankuro complained, "Gaara's stupid sand tsunami is what happened. You are way overpowered."

Gaara had no words in response to his complaint. Instead, he ordered, "Follow them, both of you and find out where they're going. I'll stay behind in case any more show up."

Sakura protested, "I can't leave you here alone."

Gaara calmly insisted, "I can handle myself. Go, that's an order."

Kankuro grabbed Sakura's arm, pulling her away, and said, "Come on, let's go."

Wearing a sad expression, Sakura nodded and followed Kankuro away from 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 beside Gaara and Sakura and commented, "Well, would you look at that."

Sakura, her eyes gleaming with wonder, remarked, "It's beautiful. We should have a date in the desert under this skylight."

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.