Chapter 19: The Hidden Sunagakure Traitors

A few days had passed after the exams had ended, and Temari returned to Konohagakure to spend some time with Shikamaru. She was leaving the boys alone to care for Sakura while her illness had her bedridden most of the morning.

By the afternoon, Sakura entered Gaara's office to give him a surprise visit. Gaara lifted his head from his paperwork and widened his eyes. He said, "What are you doing here? You should be in bed."

Sakura pouted and whined, "I can return to work, Gaara. I won't let a little sickness interfere with my job."

Gaara leaned back in his chair, his expression stern, and said, "If you believe you're ready to resume missions, then prove yourself by completing a task for me."

"What do you want me to do?" Sakura asked.

He summoned her to stand closer to him with two fingers, creating a more private space for their conversation.

Gaara hovered behind her and whispered, "Bend over."

Sakura slanted her breasts on the desk as she instructed. A craving for affection devoured her veins. Gaara gently caressed her thigh, leading up to her buttocks, and squeezed. He lifted her skirt, and the office door swung open. They quickly fixed themselves and pivoted to face the doorway. 

Kankuro raised an eyebrow. He asked," Please stop having sex in the office. It's disgusting how the images keep returning to my mind whenever I walk here."

 Gaara frowned, crossed his arms, and inquired, "What do you need, Kankuro?"

"Yura spotted a body in the Demon Desert," Kankuro replied.

Sakura gasped, "Was it a Genin?"

"I'm more concerned about why Yura was in the Demon Desert in the first place," Gaara said. 

Kankuro shrugged, "Who knows? He said it was Fugi. Death by seppuku. Why do I feel you know something about this, Gaara?"

Gaara frowned and stated, "I had nothing to do with his death, nor do I know what happened out there."

"Sakura already told me you snuck out to fight a priest who tried to kill you."

Gaara glared at his girlfriend. He said, "That's twice you disobeyed me."

Sakura argued, "You would have died."

Gaara forcefully pushed back his chair as he stood to confront Sakura and said, "You should have left me there to die. The villagers would then have nothing left to fear."

Sakura cried, "I will find a way to remove Shukaku without it resulting in your death and seal him inside me so that you won't have to suffer anymore."

Kankuro shouted, "Both of you are idiots."

Gaara gently rubbed Sakura's upper arm and said, "I cannot allow my feelings for you to cloud my judgment. So, I have decided to promote your team to Chunin. As official Chunin, I will entrust you with a significant task. Today, you embark on a C-Rank mission."

Sakura's eyes sparkled with gratitude. She kissed him and responded, "Thank you, Gaara."

He continued, "Your mission is to locate and rescue a renowned scholar named Professor Hiroshi. He vanished while researching the vast desert expanse of the Land of Wind. What we're most concerned about is his invaluable journal, which contains groundbreaking information on medicinal herbs. Our top priority is to find him and recover that journal at all costs."

Sakura nodded in agreement, her determination unwavering. She swiftly exited the room, leaving the brothers behind, to discuss her recent actions in the following days. She spotted her teammates training in the nearby field as she left the building.

Adjusting his glasses, Mikoshi asked, "Do we have a mission, Sakura?"

With a sense of urgency, she confirmed, "Yes, we have a mission to find Professor Hiroshi. I have information on his last known whereabouts. Let's not waste any time."

Mikoshi and Yukata both responded firmly, "Right."

The three Genin promptly prepared for their mission and set out across the vast ocean of sand, beginning their journey toward the remote village located on the outskirts of the Land of Wind. The village was known for its distinctive, towering cacti and desert flora, making it an ideal location for researchers.

The dense woods seemed like an impenetrable wall of trees, but Mikoshi, Sakura, and Yukata were undeterred. As they ventured deeper into the forest, they encountered various challenges, from dealing with aggressive wildlife to navigating the dense underbrush.

After a day of searching, they stumbled upon a makeshift campsite. It belonged to Professor Hiroshi, as his research materials, equipment, and journal were scattered around. It seemed like he had left in a hurry.

The team took a closer look at the journal and found that it contained valuable insights into medicinal herbs, including a potentially groundbreaking discovery. With their mission clear, they knew they had to find the missing scholar and return him and the journal to the village.

The trail became increasingly challenging as they delved deeper into the forest. Signs indicated that Professor Hiroshi may have faced threats, including rogue Ninja and dangerous creatures. The team remained vigilant and ready to face any obstacle in their path.

As the day turned into night, the trio set up camp at the professor's site to rest and prepare for the challenges.

In the middle of the night, Mikoshi was on watch when he sensed a presence nearby. He woke Sakura and Yukata, and together, they quietly investigated the source of the disturbance.

They discovered a hidden campfire surrounded by rogue Ninjas who appeared to have taken Professor Hiroshi hostage. The professor was bound and gagged, his journal held in the hands of one of the Ninjas.

Sakura, with her medical knowledge and quick thinking, devised a plan. She approached the rogue Ninja with a seemingly harmless proposal. "We're here to negotiate. Let the scholar go, and we'll let you leave in peace."

The rogue Ninja hesitated but agreed, hoping to escape without conflict. Once Professor Hiroshi was safely released, Sakura handed them a decoy journal, pretending it was real. The rogue Ninja fell for the ruse and swiftly escaped, leaving the team unharmed and with the actual journal.

The team returned to the village with Professor Hiroshi and the valuable journal. The villagers were overjoyed to see the scholar return safely, and their gratitude was evident.

Back in Konohagakure, they reported their successful mission to Lady Tsunade. She was pleased with their efforts and praised them for their resourcefulness and teamwork.

The recovered journal contained vital information that would greatly benefit the village's medical department, further demonstrating the significance of their mission. Team 7 had not only found the missing scholar but also brought back knowledge that would improve the lives of their fellow villagers.

As the young Genin returned to their daily lives, they reflected on their adventure, knowing they were one step closer to becoming true Shinobi.

As the sun gracefully descended from the sky, it cast a warm, orange hue that enveloped the desert, creating a breathtaking atmosphere. The team had been on the move for quite some time, their journey spanning miles, until they finally arrived at a bustling civilian village. The villagers moved about their daily activities, seemingly unperturbed by the world beyond.

At a modest mobile food stall within the village square, they noticed several flyers prominently displayed, each featuring a picture of the missing scholar, Professor Hiroshi. In the photograph, he possessed a light limestone complexion, accentuated by his well-defined muscles. His striking red hair stood out with its prominent spikes, and his eyes were a deep, inky black. He could be seen wearing a white lab coat, black sweatpants, and a vibrant red long-sleeved shirt.

Sakura examined one of the flyers closely and remarked, "It seems the villagers here are quite familiar with him. I wonder if the cook at this stall might know more about Professor Hiroshi."

Yukata's cheerful voice filled the air as she raised her arms in celebration, exclaiming, "Hurray, I am starving!"

Mikoshi, ever the pragmatic one, countered, "We're not here to eat. Our priority should be finding the professor before anything unfortunate befalls him."

Resolute, Sakura nodded and led the team into the mobile food stall. Inside, they encountered a chef donned in a dark blue apron with signs of age and use. He turned slowly, his trembling head indicating his unease, and cautiously inquired, "Sunagakure Shinobi, are you here to find Professor Hiroshi?"

Sakura confirmed their mission, responding, "Indeed, we are. Can you provide us with any information on his recent whereabouts?"

The chef scratched his head and replied, "A couple of days ago, he dined here, enjoying a bowl of rice butter. He seemed rather excited, mentioning his discovery of some old ruins near his location that he was eager to explore. Regrettably, he never returned."

Mikoshi pressed for more details, asking, "Could you help us by pointing us toward these ruins?"

The chef nodded in acknowledgment and elaborated, "The ruins are situated halfway between Sunagakure and this village, right on his route."

Sakura bowed respectfully and expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you for the information."

With the newfound knowledge of the ruins' location, the trio departed from the food stalls and exited the village. As they ventured back into the vast desert, posters featuring Professor Hiroshi's image were conspicuously scattered, and the villagers murmured about the Suna Shinobi's presence.

Yukata expressed discontent with the chef's directions, groaning, "So, we walked out here just to march halfway back?"

Sakura responded, exasperated, "There's no point in complaining. Let's focus on the mission and get it done."

As Mikoshi took the lead, running swiftly across the desert while skillfully avoiding the cactus needles, Sakura halted, methodically picking out individual needles from the cacti. She wrapped them one by one in a strip of red cloth before placing them in her bag. Mikoshi and Yukata halted their sprint to observe her, their faces confused and curious about her actions.

Yukata observed the growing pile of cactus needles and inquired, "What are you doing with all those needles?"

Sakura explained, "They can be useful weapons if we find ourselves in a tough situation. Needles can be quite effective."

Mikoshi smirked and praised her idea, saying, "Smart thinking."

Yukata sighed in relief, "I thought you were going to tell us it's one of your BDSM kinks."

Sakura chuckled and assured them, "We're not into that sort of thing, I promise."

"What are you into?" Yukata asked. 

"Gaara loves to dominate, and I am always the submissive type. We love bondage and roleplaying. Most days, I won't lie; he fucks me so hard I cannot move for the rest of the day."

"He must like it rough."

"You have no idea."

Mikoshi sighed, "I'm only rough when I have the energy." 

"That doesn't surprise me," Yukata said. 

"Yeah, whatever. Can we go now?"

The girls continued their laughter as they walked ahead of Mikoshi, who trailed behind while covering his ears with his jacket to block out their nonsensical chatter.

As they approached their destination, Sakura pointed toward the tall, cracked, and open ruins and said, "Over there. If we hurry, we might reach it before nightfall."

A large, tan-colored tent stood before the aged, crumbling ruins with their peculiar orange rock formations. Its size was akin to an average-sized bedroom. Inside the tent was a small twin-sized cot and makeshift tables crafted from carved wood. Amidst the setup, a microscope and myriad plant and animal samples were scattered across the desks, waiting to be examined. This was the first time these particular species had been discovered, offering potential human and veterinary medicine applications.

Mikoshi lifted his blood-drenched white coat with one hand and showed it to the girls. The discovery did little to boost their optimism regarding the professor's chances of survival.

Yukata inquired, "What should we do now?"

Sakura responded firmly, "We continue searching."

Beneath a pile of animal bones, Sakura uncovered an old, dusty book. Carefully, she wiped away the layers of grime, revealing a book that looked almost brand new. When she opened the first page, it became evident that it was a notebook filled with the professor's extensive research. Sakura gasped in excitement and turned around to show her discovery to the others. "I think I've found it. This appears to be the professor's journal."

Mikoshi accepted the book from her hand and began reading the intricate scientific notes. He soon had a smile on his face as he exclaimed, "I can only understand about half of what's written here. It's incredibly advanced."

Yukata said, "Now, all we need to do is find Professor Hiroshi."

Mikoshi exited the tent and gazed up at the starry desert sky. "We should use the tent as shelter for the night and start fresh tomorrow."

Sakura sighed, "I was hoping to finish the mission today and return to sleep in my bed with Gaara. He's so warm, and he keeps me feeling safe at night. I miss it."

"I'll go find some firewood and scout the area. You two keep the journal safe," Mikoshi stated.

Yukata replied cheerfully, "Okidokie."

"I'll continue searching for clues about his whereabouts," Sakura declared.

With determination, Sakura lowered herself onto her hands and knees, meticulously inspecting the area underneath the cot. Her hand gingerly reached inside, disturbing the dust and debris. As she delved deeper, she retrieved biology and chemistry textbooks dedicated to specific desert creatures. However, the most astonishing discovery awaited her at the end—Sakura gently pulled out a crystallized preserved flower. It was so breathtaking that it left her momentarily speechless. The exquisite flower displayed deep crimson hues with delicate black tips adorning its petals, a species unlike any she had ever encountered in the desert.

She straightened up to show Yukata her newfound discovery, but a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. Sakura's vision blurred, and her head spun uncontrollably.

"Are you okay, Sakura?" Yukata inquired, concern etched across her face.

"I don't believe this is just vertigo," Sakura replied softly, one hand cradling her throbbing head. But before she could say more, she collapsed to the floor, her consciousness slipping away. Hours passed, and Sakura slowly regained awareness, her eyes fluttering open to a hazy scene. She found herself being transported on a gurney by Sunagakure Medical Shinobi and swiftly wheeled into the emergency section of a hospital.

The doors whisked her away before she could take in the details of the emergency triage room. Sakura's eyes closed once more as the medical team commenced their care, and she drifted into a long, deep rest.

Sakura gradually regained consciousness, her dizziness subsiding after receiving intravenous fluids. She turned her head to the left, and her eyes met Kankuro's wide, relieved gaze.

In a weak voice, she inquired, "What happened?"

Kankuro's face lit up, and he leaped from his chair, hastily leaving the room. He couldn't contain his joy as he called out in the hallway, "She's awake!"

Kankuro rushed back into the room and settled by Sakura's bedside. He gently cupped her cheeks, his expression a mix of concern and profound relief. The weight of anxiety lifted, knowing she was safe, at least for the moment.

"Hey," Sakura whispered, her voice still feeble.

"You scared the hell out of us," Kankuro confessed.

"Sorry," Sakura replied with a faint chuckle.

An experienced elderly Medical Shinobi walked into the room. He was clad in his time-worn white doctor's coat, which he wore with pride. He greeted Sakura with a warm smile, holding her medical chart in his hands.

"Sakura, you've been under the weather for several days, is that correct?" the doctor inquired.

Sakura nodded weakly. "Yes."

The doctor glanced at her, then asked, "Will the Kazekage be joining us?"

"Gaara is busy with work, and I'd rather not bother him unless it's genuinely serious. Kankuro is his brother, and we're close friends, so he's here with me," Sakura explained.

"That's good. The news I have isn't concerning; in fact, it's quite positive, which is why I asked," the doctor reassured them. He continued, "Your stress levels are what's been causing your recent health issues, but we've given you some medication and fluids, so you should be fine. However, the reason for your nausea and vomiting is because you are pregnant. Congratulations!" the doctor exclaimed.

"Wait, what?" Kankuro said, feeling like his mind was exploding with the sudden, shocking news.

"Are you serious? Wow, that's insane," Sakura exclaimed. "When can I go see Gaara?"

The doctor handed Sakura her discharge papers, saying, "Here are your discharge papers. Kankuro can help you outside, but it's hospital policy that you leave in a wheelchair, okay?"

Kankuro asked, "When can we do the baby picture thing?"

"You mean the sonogram. It's a bit early; she's only been pregnant for two weeks. We can set one up for a month from now if you'd like," the doctor replied with a chuckle.

"Yeah, that sounds great!" Sakura said, sitting up from the hospital bed.

"Perfect," the doctor responded, handing Sakura the paperwork.

"I'll go get the wheelchair," Kankuro said, leaving the room.

Sakura handed her discharge papers to the nurse's station, and Kankuro wheeled her outside. 

When the breeze gently caressed her skin, Sakura rose from the wheelchair to embrace the astonishingly frigid night sky.

"Not long ago, we talked about having children, but we weren't expecting it to happen so soon," Sakura reflected.

"What did he say when the topic was brought up?" Kankuro asked. 

"He wanted to ensure our village and family were safe before bringing a child to this scary world."

"Shit, I hope he doesn't react badly to the news."

The thought of Gaara reacting badly to the news tied knots in her stomach. It wasn't the right time to share this. It wasn't the right time to do this. The long, quiet walk led them through the village, where they felt the cold, still air on their skin. Not a soul was in sight for miles, as everyone had already gone to bed. The eerie silence felt haunting. Sakura couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The village was too quiet, and the wind wasn't blowing.

Sakura asked, "I collapsed during the mission. What happened to the professor?"

"Mikoshi found the professor in the woods, lying dead in an orchard of flowers. He was tied up like a prisoner, but he probably died of natural causes, so the kidnappers let him go. In the end, they never found the journal. Yukata carried the journal and the crystallized flower you found in the tent. He was staying in, so the mission is done." 

"Technically, the mission was to bring back the journal, and as long as we had the journal, nothing else mattered."

"Yeah, poor guy. His family is burying him this weekend." 

Upon their arrival at the Kazekage building, Kankuro opened the door, allowing Sakura to enter first. He followed her up the stairs to the office. Two Shinobi were supposed to be standing guard, but the office door was wide open, and the window from inside the room brought in the cold air.

Without hesitation, the two rushed inside Gaara's office to check on him, but he was nowhere to be found. Loud explosions shook the building, causing them to lose their balance.

Kankuro shouted, "We have to get to the roof!"

Sakura nodded and followed him upstairs to open the rusted metal door. The moment the door swung open, the sky revealed a traumatic sight. A blonde man wearing the Akatsuki black jacket with a red cloud pattern sat on the back of a massive white clay bird and flew away. The bird held Gaara in its tail. His sand shield crumbled away in the sky as he lay unconscious.

Kankuro panicked, "Holy shit, what in the actual fuck."

Sakura shouted, "The Akatsuki, is he taking him outside the village?"

"We can't let him get away," Kankuro said.

"I'll kill him myself," Sakura growled.

A furious whirl of sand encircled the Kazekage's office building. The sand morphed into enormous wings on her back. Sakura fumed with rage, her knuckles cracking as she clenched her fists. She lifted herself off the roof, suspended for takeoff. But before she could launch, Kankuro seized her hand and tugged her back down.

Kankuro calmly reassured her, "I can't allow you to chase after the Akatsuki. They won't care if you're pregnant. The Akatsuki will kill you and the baby. I'll go after them, but promise me you'll stay here. If anything happened to you, Gaara would have my head."

"Fine," Sakura said, scowling. "Are you not alarmed that I can manipulate sand?"

Kankuro smirked as he replied, "When you left for the desert, Gaara told me everything. As much as I want to be mad at you now, we have more important things to worry about. I'll need your help getting down. Would you mind?"

Sakura nodded and took off into the sky. She manipulated her sand to form claws on her feet so she could grab him and take off to the village entrance. 

Baki arrived on the roof and rushed to the edge, desperately trying to stop them. He shouted, "Hey, don't be so reckless. Wait until we can gather a proper unit."

Kankuro turned his head against the rushing wind and yelled, "We'll lose him if we just stand around!"

"I'll be there shortly. Don't go after the Akatsuki without backup," Baki cautioned.

"Yeah, we know... jeez," Sakura replied, clearly annoyed.

As they flew further away from the Kazekage's office, the village entrance drew near. Sakura needed more patience to follow orders from Baki and the other council members, whom she considered a nuisance. When they neared the entrance, she gently placed Kankuro on top of a nearby building for him to leap from while she followed him.

"Lord Kankuro, Lady Sakura," two Jonins called out as they joined them.

Kankuro commanded, "Don't let him get away, no matter what."

"Yes, sir," the Jonin replied, obediently following his orders.

Sakura observed, "He's landing directly on the other side of the entrance wall."

Kankuro exclaimed, "There should be a unit securing the area up there!"

"During the meeting before the Chunin exams," Sakura remarked, "Yura claimed to have added extra security with Jonin and Anbu. What happened?" She flickered a signal at the entrance with her sand, but there was no response from the wall.

After they had landed on the ground in front of the entrance, Sakura made up her mind to continue her flight through the air. She was prepared to turn her wings sideways and glide through the village entrance when Kankuro urgently called out to her.

"Sakura, wait, hold on."

Although she was almost too frustrated to listen, Sakura circled back around and landed beside Kankuro, where they were joined by other Jonin.

Sakura impatiently inquired, "What?"

Kankuro responded, "It's too quiet."

Sakura added, "I sent out some signals on the way here, but only one responded."

Kankuro was frustrated, "What the hell is going on here?"

Sakura turned to one of the Jonin and ordered, "Go check to see what's going on up there."

The Jonin promptly ascended the wall using only his feet and paused briefly to shout, "Hey, Lord Kankuro, Lady Sakura. Everyone is dead..."

Sakura gasped, "What?"

Kankuro clicked his tongue over the roof of his mouth and ran ahead of them to witness the tragic sight of scattered bodies between the entrance walls. He knelt down to touch a corpse and remarked, "What a mess. From the looks of it, they weren't attacked recently. They died before the time of Gaara's fight."

"Some of those Shinobi were the strongest in the village," Sakura quietly noted.

A Jonin speculated, "A large group must have attacked them."

Sakura pointed to the footprints in the desert and explained, "Only two sets of footprints, so it's not likely a large group."

Kankuro gazed into the distance and muttered, "Perhaps..."

Sakura pressed him, "What are you thinking?"

Kankuro discreetly pulled Sakura aside and spoke in hushed tones, "When Gaara was taken as the Kazekage, I conducted the research he requested to identify any potential traitors from our village. I might have an idea of who it could be. It appears that the group that took Gaara passed straight through here."

Sakura, determined to move forward, immediately responded, "What are we waiting for? Let's go." 

She led the group cautiously, with Kankuro following closely behind. A Jonin, not too far back, heard a groaning noise and turned to his right, discovering a wounded Shinobi partially twitching his arm. 

The Jonin urgently shouted, "Someone's still alive!"

Sakura and Kankuro stopped, turning to see what was happening behind them. The injured Shinobi lay on the ground, and the Jonin gathered around, hoping to render aid. Kankuro raised his voice, warning, "Stop, don't move him carelessly."

Ignoring Kankuro's caution, the Jonin tried to help the wounded Shinobi stand by pulling his injured arm over his shoulder, intending to escort him to the hospital. In response, the injured Shinobi bent his neck backward, revealing a paper bomb attached to his chest.

Kankuro quickly pulled Sakura back, urgently exclaiming, "It's a paper bomb."

Sakura, her heart racing, cursed, "Shit, it was a trap."

Kankuro acted swiftly, instructing her, "Use the puppet we built together and hide inside until I give you the all-clear."

Without a moment's hesitation, they simultaneously unfurled their scrolls directly in front of them. Using their teeth, they cut their fingers and utilized their blood to summon their puppets.

In a matter of seconds, a seven-foot-tall feminine puppet emerged. It had long black hair, a white face, and a black kabuki mask painted over its eyes. The puppet's black hair flowed straight down to its thighs, and its five-foot-long arms were adorned in one of Sakura's black Yukata with purple and blue morning glories. A dark purple obi tied it all together while metal spikes protruded from its arms, forming a shield to encase Sakura inside. On Kankuro's end, he summoned his Salamander puppet, concealing himself within its back as he rescued two other Shinobi.

After the deafening rumbling had finally fallen silent, Salamander carefully crawled to the top of the pile of rubble. Kankuro emerged from his hiding place, retracting his puppet to where it was initially summoned. Sakura's puppet skillfully ascended the hole that Salamander had created and carried Sakura to safety, setting her down beside Kankuro. Her puppet remained faithfully by her side. As Sakura looked at Kankuro, she could almost see the steam practically rising from his head.

Kankuro clenched his teeth and furrowed his brows, an unmistakable frustration on his face. He gently laid the two Shinobi on the ground and spoke in a strained voice, "I could only save two. Get them medical attention immediately."

Sakura, confused by the situation, started to say something but was interrupted by Baki, who was standing at the base of the rubble. He called up to them, "What's your plan now, Kankuro?"

Kankuro shifted to face Baki and shouted, "Isn't it obvious? I'm going to rescue Gaara."

Baki, with a hint of concern in his voice, replied, "He was strong enough to defeat Gaara. You don't stand a chance against him."

Kankuro, with unwavering determination, countered, "So, are you suggesting we should just abandon Gaara?"

Baki explained, "That's not what I'm saying. If we can locate the Akatsuki's hideout, we can gather a unit later and plan an attack."

Kankuro, without offering a response, turned his back on Baki and began the preparations to depart from the village. He spent some time securing his three giant scrolls on his back, clearly focused on rescuing Gaara.

Baki sighed and said, "You can follow them, but don't even think about making a reckless move."

Kankuro, full of resolve, muttered, "Yeah, if I can."

Kankuro gently rubbed Sakura's shoulder. "I'll be back. Take care of the village while I'm gone."

"I will," Sakura replied.

Kankuro sprinted through the entrance, disappearing into the night, determined to follow any leads that might lead him to Gaara's kidnappers.

Baki stormed away from his group of Jonin Shinobi, his words short and demanding, "Handle it."

The Jonin efficiently climbed the pile of rubble to assist the injured survivors. Sakura's puppet dissipated in a puff of white smoke, returning to where it was initially summoned. Filled with frustration towards Baki, she followed him, determined to ensure he didn't take any unlawful actions against the Sand Siblings.

Baki noticed Sakura trailing him and asked with a hint of irritation, "What do you think you're doing, Lady Sakura?"

Sakura responded firmly, "I am Gaara's right hand when it comes to the village's political matters. As you lead the Suna council, I will temporarily assume Gaara's role to safeguard both the village and the Sand Siblings."

"Very well, then. Follow me."

The two hurriedly returned to the Kazekage building, climbing the stairs with Jonin rushing to keep up. Baki said, "Deploy a pursuit unit to go after Kankuro immediately."

One of the Jonin acknowledged the order, responding with, "Yes, sir," before swiftly departing from the building.

"Baki," Sakura urged, "we should reach out to Konohagakure. They've assisted in rescuing Gaara and me on several previous occasions. We need their help more urgently than ever."

Baki sighed with frustration, his agreement begrudging, "Do as you see fit."

Sakura immediately instructed one of the Jonin who had been trailing them, "Contact Konoha to request assistance in rescuing Lord Kazekage. Make it a high-priority S-ranked mission, an emergency mission, understand?"

"Yes, Lady Sakura," the Jonin responded before rushing to complete the task.

Both Baki and Sakura entered the meeting room, where many members of the Suna council were engaged in hushed conversations. They discussed a council member who had gone missing since the recent incident. The coming days promised to be challenging, but Sakura was determined to face the challenges head-on, especially if it meant saving the brothers' lives.