Chapter 21: Gaara’s Kidney Bean

Ryo passed an antidote he had prepared to Ginko. Ginko swiftly injected the antivenom into Kankuro's veins, targeting his arms once the effects of the pain medication had worn off. They watched intently to see how it would impact his condition while he writhed in pain. Sakura clutched Kankuro's hand tightly and implored, "He needs more pain relief."

"We can't administer additional pain medication," Ginko sighed. "We have to wait and see if any of the antivenoms we've used will alleviate his symptoms to some extent, but so far, nothing is providing relief."

 Sakura asked in a hushed tone, "Kankuro, was this Sasori's doing?"

Kankuro nodded, though he still quivered in agony. 

"Granny Chiyo won't be pleased when she hears about this," Sakura sighed.

Somehow, Kankuro managed to muffle a few words that no one could understand. In his fragile state, speaking was a formidable task. Sakura leaned closer to Kankuro's face and asked, "What did you say?"

Kankuro weakly inquired, "How long have you been here?"

Sakura brushed her black hair with her fingertips and smiled, "I stayed here all day yesterday and even slept here."

Concerned for her well-being, Kankuro asked, "When was the last time you ate?"

"Don't worry about me. You have to save your strength. I'm perfectly fine here," Sakura reassured him.

"...but the baby?"

"Both of us are fine. Why are you asking so many questions? You should be resting."

Kankuro squirmed in pain and then asked, "Tell me more about the baby. It makes the pain more tolerable."

Sakura nodded and replied, "Okay, I did visit my doctor today while you were unconscious. He did some tests and said I'm eight weeks pregnant. We did an ultrasound, and I saw the tiny hands and feet. The doctor said the baby was the size of a kidney bean. Isn't that cute?"

"That's so small..."

"Yeah, the nurse is coming soon with a photo of the ultrasound. They handed it to me earlier, but everyone was so excited they passed it around the hospital. The news of the Kazekage having a child is stirring."

"Well, look at you, Miss Popular." 

Kankuro writhed in torment as the pain intensified. His fingers and toes contorted, and his teeth clenched. Gradually, as the day wore on, he found it increasingly difficult to keep his eyes open. Sakura watched him slip back into slumber, reminiscing about their childhood stories.

Baki entered the room, his broad grin contrasting the somber atmosphere. He presented Sakura with the ultrasound photo of the tiny being with its delicate toes and intertwined fingers, eliciting her first smile.

Baki explained, "The nurses requested me to return this to you."

"It only took them about twenty hours to spread the word throughout the hospital. Soon, the entire village will know," Sakura chuckled. 

"It does take a village to raise a baby, especially when the parents are two powerful Shinobi."

"I'm incredibly grateful for this luxury," Sakura added, her thoughts drifting back to her lonely childhood. "When I was a little girl, I was often alone. My parents and sister would be away on missions for days, and I had to learn to care for myself."

Baki reassured her, "You're well taken care of now for the rest of your life."

Granny Chiyo and her younger brother, Ebizo, entered the treatment room. Their contrasting personalities were evident as they approached Kankuro's bedside. Sakura observed Ebizo's unique features, from his heavy-lidded eyes to his long eyebrows and turban. He was dressed in the traditional Sunagakure outfit. The medical personnel began whispering amongst themselves as they gathered around Kankuro.

Daiki whispered, "Who are they?"

Ginko responded hushedly, "That's Lady Chiyo and Lord Ebizo."

"I thought they were supposed to have long been retired," Daiki said under his breath.

Baki spoke, "We've been expecting you."

"If I'm not mistaken, this is..." Ebizo began.

Granny Chiyo interjected, "It's Kankuro, Lord Kazekage's eldest brother."

Ebizo turned his gaze to Sakura, who stood gracefully by Kankuro's side during his most vulnerable moment. He remarked, "You look just like the little princess who survived a direct attack from Shukaku."

"That is me, Grandpa," Sakura giggled, "Lord Kazekage and I are together, remember? His siblings are my best friends who protected me after the attack." 

"How lovely," Ebizo said.

"I'm here to give Kankuro some emotional support while Granny Chiyo does her magic," Sakura said. 

"Did you check his blood?" Granny Chiyo inquired.

Ginko replied, "Yes, please take a look at this." He handed her the scroll with Kankuro's blood results for her examination.

Granny Chiyo examined the information and remarked, "I've never seen this composition before."

"We believe it's a new type of poison," Ginko explained.

"Have you attempted an antidote?" Granny Chiyo inquired.

"For the time being, we used what was available, but none yielded identifiable effects," Ginko answered.

"I see... Ordinarily, he would finish the job... He's very confident about his poison. Leaving his prey in this state intentionally is just like Sasori," Granny Chiyo noted.

Her spirits dampened, and Sakura asked, "Why would Sasori do this to someone who aspired to be a great puppet master like him?"

Granny Chiyo sighed and replied, "He lost his parents, one of whom was my son. In his grief, he created puppets of his family and ran away. His experiments on turning humans into puppets were strongly disapproved."

Granny Chiyo unrolled a scroll on the counter adorned with medicine vials and glass beakers. She got to work mixing liquids, pouring a few drops onto the center of the scroll. A burst of fire erupted from the scroll before returning to its original state. Despite her impressive skills, she struggled to find the right combination of antivenom. She worked tirelessly for hours, but nothing seemed to be effective.

"Have you attempted any other treatments?" Ebizo inquired.

Baki responded, "For now, we've requested Konoha to dispatch a specialist team. It would be prudent to wait for their arrival."

Granny Chiyo expressed her disapproval, saying, "Depending on others. This happens when you rely on alliances with other lands and pursue something other than thorough education."

Granny Chiyo, a product of a time when alliances often led to betrayal, held her beliefs firmly. Although Sakura believed Gaara could change this perspective, she refrained from voicing her contrary opinion, knowing that it wouldn't sway Granny Chiyo's worldview. The room fell silent for a moment.

Ebizo concluded, "I suppose it can't be helped. Ultimately, it was Kankuro's mistake to lose his composure and go too far. A Shinobi should be the last to do that."

Granny Chiyo continued, "Why should we place our trust and dependency on Konoha? Our village's strength should be our utmost priority. They are distinct from us. Listen, dreaming of a friendly alliance is futile. In times like these, the best we can hope for is they'll send some ineffectual underlings to fulfill appearances."

Baki disagreed, saying, "That's not likely to happen."

Granny Chiyo responded, "This is the way of the world. Everyone prioritizes their interests."

Sakura's exhaustion was becoming increasingly evident. She sat in the chair, her elbow propped on her thigh, with her hand supporting her jaw. Her eyelids kept drooping, and her stomach growled loudly.

Noticing her unusual behavior, Baki asked, "Hey, are you alright?"

Fighting her sleepiness, she fibbed, "Yeah, I'm energetic and ready for Kankuro's next round of treatment."

Granny Chiyo said, "You should go home and rest, dear."

Protesting, Sakura insisted, "No, I'm not tired. I'm fine."

With concern, Baki sighed, "You haven't slept well these past few days and haven't eaten that much either. That can't be good for your unborn child."

In shock, Granny Chiyo asked, "You're with child?"

"Yes, it's Gaara's heir, but I'm losing hope every day that I'll ever see him again," Sakura admitted with a heavy heart.

"Big sis, if we lose them both, then the child would be without a father," Ebizo pointed out.

With a sense of urgency, Granny Chiyo said, "I know we'll have to work quickly. Sakura, hope is not lost yet. Go rest and return in the morning."

Sakura relented, "Fine, I will return early tomorrow morning."

She left the Sunagakure hospital and deliberately chose the long way home, savoring the sensation of the cold desert air brushing against her skin. Unfazed by the enveloping darkness or the lurking scorpions, she ventured through the desolate streets.

Returning to an empty house, she faced a lonely experience she had hoped never to endure again. The silence was deafening as she entered the dark home. Sitting at the dining room table, she laid her head on its surface, eyes wide open, staring at the front door, her heart aching with anticipation for Gaara and Kankuro to walk through it at any moment.

Time, she seemed to stretch endlessly as she continued her vigil. With each passing moment, it felt like an eternity. As the minutes turned into hours, Sakura's weariness began to take its toll. Tears welled up and rolled down her face as she sat there, gazing at the door. In the stillness of the night, she gradually succumbed to fatigue, her eyelids growing heavy.

As the weight of her worry bore down on her, Sakura eventually dozed off, her cheeks damp with unshed tears and her heart heavy with uncertainty. Granny Chiyo opened the front door and entered the dining room only hours later. 

"The last time you ever stepped inside my home like this, my parents died," Sakura cried, anticipating the worst. "Gaara is gone... Isn't he?"

"The Akatsuki captured him to take possession of his tailed beast. He most likely will not come out of this alive. So you have to prepare yourself," Lady Chiyo gravely informed her.

"I'm so sick and tired of standing by and watching the only family I have left die again! I hate sitting here waiting. I want to fight," Sakura passionately declared.

"You will have your chance, dear." 

"Gaara and I had a close relationship throughout childhood, and now we're more intimate than ever. So, tell me. How am I supposed to live without him?"

"The most meaningful factor is you won't be alone in your grief," Granny Chiyo replied. "…and whenever you're ready, Kankuro will hopefully be there."

"I have to return to the hospital to be with Kankuro now. Will you be coming with me?" Sakura inquired.

Granny Chiyo nodded, her expression determined. "I have a few more antidotes that could save his life."

"Thank you, Granny," Sakura replied. The stroll back to the hospital offered a moment of respite. The air was free from humidity, and there were no signs of impending sandstorms. They entered the hospital and proceeded to treatment room number three. Kankuro lay on the bed, slowly waking from the sedative he had received. Fortunately, Sakura was right by his side as he regained consciousness, her beautiful face being the first thing he saw.

Kankuro smiled and croaked out, "How's the kidney bean?"

Sakura chuckled and replied, "Probably a dried-up bean by now, given the lack of water I've had in the past few days."

Kankuro, in a weak voice, urged, "Go ask the nurse for some fluids."

Sakura shook her head, determined. "No, I'm okay. Granny Chiyo made another antidote last night. Let's hope it works this time."

Just as the nurse prepared to administer the medication and rubbed alcohol on the injection site, Kankuro halted her with a weak but urgent cry, "Wait, not yet."

"Kankuro, what's the matter?" Sakura asked. 

"I want to see the ultrasound photo of the kidney bean," Kankuro requested. 

Sakura chuckled and pulled out a photo to hand it over to him and said, "You have to make it through this so you can see this child's face when they are old enough to take the Chunin exams."

"That's my little nephew in there," Kankuro smiled. He returned the photograph to Sakura and tubbed her belly for a minute. 

Ginko leaned in to speak with Kankuro, "We will be performing the same routine as usual. I am going to pull you off the painkillers and inject the antivenom to see if it works the way it should. Are you ready?" 

"No, but it's not like I have a choice..." Kankuro sighed. 

Sakura whimpered, "Stay strong, okay." 

Kankuro smiled, "I will because I have something worth fighting for now." 

Ginko pushed the needle inside Kankuro's shoulder and then injected the antivenom. His breath slowly became heavier, and the pain was almost unbearable again. In the afternoon, he would only drool and have spasms while he whined in agony. Granny Chiyo was working tirelessly on a cure for the poison in his veins. Sakura couldn't take it anymore. Watching him in pain was so emotionally traumatizing. 

Kankuro was soaked in sweat and struggling to catch his breath.

Sakura clenched Kankuro's hand tightly and cried, "Granny, it's not working. Isn't there anything else we can do? He's getting worse."

Granny Chiyo hurried to Kankuro's side, her experienced hands reaching for his wrist to check his pulse. Her voice trembled with concern as she said, "This isn't good. Poisons are my specialty, but even I need help figuring this out."

Sakura panicked, her voice trembling, "What?"

"Even you, Lady Chiyo?" Baki's disbelief was evident.

"At best, he has one day. He may not even make it to dawn tomorrow. That Sasori has surely grown considerably," Granny Chiyo said with a heavy heart.

Sakura trembled and cried, her desperation evident, "No, there must be something else we can do. Please, Granny?"

Understanding Sakura's distress, Granny Chiyo took a moment to consider if there was any alternative. She finally suggested, "Well, the only one who might know more about antidotes than me would be Konoha's slug princess, Tsunade. I had a lot of trouble with her during the Great War. She would decipher all the poisons I created and concoct antidotes. And now we're allies with Konoha. All we can do is send for her and have her look at Kankuro."

Sakura's panic escalated, her voice choked with tears, as she cried out, "But she is now the Hokage and would not be able to leave her village so easily. And even if she were to come, it would take three days to get here from Konoha."

"I know. Nobody's seriously thinking of summoning her. I don't like that slug girl, anyway," Granny Chiyo frowned.

The room had gone silent, with Sakura's quiet weeping the only sound, her face buried in her hands as she leaned over Kankuro's bandaged chest. A Jonin quietly entered the room, waiting respectfully at the door. Sakura wiped away her tears to look at the Jonin. Her glance brought everyone's attention to the Shinobi. Baki, with a stern expression, crossed his arms, waiting for him to speak.

"Out with it, junior," Baki demanded.

The Jonin began, "I apologize for my intrusion during this sensitive time, but we will soon be finished removing the traps and rocks from the road. We are currently working on gathering the bodies. But there is one thing that is a matter of concern."

"What is it?" Baki inquired.

The Jonin reported, "We have yet to locate Captain Yura. He was heading for the road just before the incident, and we haven't found a trace of his clothing."

"Organize a search team for him as well," Baki ordered.

Sakura sniffled, her voice trembling, as she spoke up, "No, we have too many Jonin already searching for missing Shinobi. Deploy a team of Chunin instead."

"Of course, Lady Sakura," The Jonin quickly bowed and hurried out of the room, leaving behind the somber atmosphere.

Sakura sobbed, "I can't bear losing them both."

Granny Chiyo enveloped Sakura in her arms, offering solace. Sakura's heart-wrenching cries reverberated through the hospital corridors.

Suddenly, Kankuro let out a piercing scream, contorting as if writhing in agony. Ryo acted quickly, pinning him down as Ginko prepared the sedative.

"All we can do is alleviate his suffering," Granny Chiyo asserted. "Our sole ray of hope lies with Konoha, as they're scheduled to arrive tomorrow. If they have a poison specialist..."

Ryo interrupted her, saying, "Only if Kankuro can endure until then."

Baki shot a disapproving look at Ryo and continued the discussion, saying, "Regrettably, the route from Konoha is currently blocked by a sandstorm. In the worst-case scenario, they might be delayed by several days."

"If that happens, then it's hopeless," Sakura lamented.

"This is lamentable. I can't believe the day has come when we must rely on Konoha's aid," Granny Chiyo expressed her disappointment.

Ebizo, displaying concern, asked, "Aren't you exhausted, big sister? Let's sit outside for a while. You haven't had a wink of sleep since yesterday, right?"

Granny Chiyo sighed, "It's truly disheartening to depend on Konoha."

Ebizo gently led her out of the treatment room, where benches lined the walls. He settled her on the nearest bench by the door, and she quickly fell asleep.

Before leaving the room, Baki faced Sakura and said, "He won't be awake for some time. Let me buy you something to eat."

"I'm okay here, thank you," Sakura whimpered. 

"That wasn't a request," Baki said, frowning at her lack of self-care while pregnant. 

"This might be the last day I get to spend with him; I won't leave him alone," Sakura cried. 

Baki indeed felt sorry for her, but he also did not want her to lose the child either. So many losses at once can lead to something far worse than depression. He glanced at her, thinking of how to convince her otherwise, but he knew she wasn't the type to change her mind so easily. He walked away, leaving Sakura in the eerie silence of the room with unconscious Kankuro.

Alone, with only the soft sound of Kankuro's breathing, Sakura contemplated the unthinkable: what she would do if she lost the love of her life and her best friend. The weight of her thoughts pressed on her, and she briefly considered the heart-wrenching option of terminating her pregnancy, as the child would be a constant, painful reminder of what she might lose. Sakura shuddered at the prospect and decided not to dwell on it any longer.

As the late evening descended, the sedation injection gradually wore off. Kankuro awakened, his senses clouded with nausea and the sensation of a lump in his throat. In a feeble voice, he questioned, "Sakura... is that you?"

Sakura raised her head, her eyes filled with sadness, and moved closer to sit at his bedside. Her heart ached as she listened to the pain in his voice.

"Hey, how's the pain?" Sakura inquired gently.

Kankuro groaned, his distress evident. "It's getting worse every time I wake back up. Granny Chiyo hasn't found the antivenom yet?"

Tears welled in Sakura's eyes as she responded, "No, Sasori created a poison he knew Suna couldn't easily cure."

Kankuro's voice quivered as he whispered, "So I'm going to die."

Sakura's voice was desperate, "We've requested help from Konoha. They're our only hope of saving you."

"Damn, and to think I was looking forward to training the kid," Kankuro sighed, his voice tinged with disappointment.

Sakura, wanting to shift his focus away from the grim situation, asked, "Do you remember when you helped me build my puppet?"

"Those were the days I could never forget," Kankuro smiled warmly, gazing at the high ceiling lights.

"We began working on it during that sandstorm nearly a year and a half ago," Sakura began, her voice filled with nostalgia as she embarked on a trip down memory lane.

The sand and wind outside relentlessly rattled the door to Kankuro's modest puppet workshop. The ceiling lights swayed from the gusts, casting eerie shadows on the walls. That evening, just before dinner, Kankuro had wiped away his makeup, revealing his unruly brown hair. He was diligently working on crafting spinal joints that could interconnect and move fluidly, mimicking the movements of an actual spine.

Sakura sat nearby, her sketch pad in hand, sketching her creative puppet ideas. Her giggles filled the room as she let her imagination run wild. Kankuro looked at her and said, "Remember, the puppet has to be practical, able to fit into tight spaces."

Sakura chuckled mischievously, "I was thinking about making it slither in the sand to give people a good scare but then have it rise on two feet. And it should have an intimidating face, too."

Kankuro sighed deeply, his voice tinged with exasperation, "You want to frighten people with it?"

Sakura laughed, "Yeah, wouldn't that be amusing?"

Kankuro shook his head in disbelief and gently slapped his hand to his forehead. "Combat isn't meant to be comical. Give me that sketch pad." With a swift motion, Kankuro swiped Sakura's sketch pad out of her hands. He then combined some of her whimsical ideas with his practical approach to create a formidable puppet. The result was an imposing figure with a Kabuki-inspired visage, long black hair, extended limbs, and an adaptable design that excelled in defense and offense.

Kankuro handed her the sketchpad with the final design he had crafted. Her face lit up with a big smile, and her eyes sparkled with joy as she looked at her impressive puppet design. It was precisely the puppet she had envisioned. Kankuro asked, "Do you want to build that one?"

Sakura nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, it's perfect."

Kankuro smiled with pride at the joint creation they had come up with and said, "Honestly, this is the first puppet I've ever built, so I hope it turns out great for both our sakes. Temari never liked puppets; she always thought they were creepy. Gaara said he didn't need to hide behind a puppet when he had his sand to protect him."

Sakura chuckled, "Yeah, that sounds about right."

"Are you ready to get started today?" Kankuro asked with a smile. Sakura, brimming with excitement, nodded her head and said, "Yes, let's do this."

Sakura would recount how they raced throughout the village, gathering materials and items from the stores, nearly depleting their savings. But in the end, it was all worth it. She proudly had the chance to showcase their creation to Gaara after months of dedicated effort.

"I'm glad everything turned out just the way you wanted it. But let's not talk about death tonight or tomorrow; you're not going anywhere soon. Instead, we'll focus on bringing new life into our family for a happy future. You'll be able to teach your nephew to become a master at puppets," Sakura sighed, trying to keep their conversation hopeful.

"What should we name the baby?" Kankuro inquired.

Sakura blushed and concealed her rosy cheeks with her hands, replying, "I haven't thought that far ahead yet. I'll wait until Gaara returns... if he returns..." She sighed, her worry for Gaara evident in her voice.

"I'm sure Konoha will rescue Gaara just in time as we've done for them," Kankuro said, shivering as the pain returned.

Sakura's eyes welled with tears again, and she said, "The pain will get worse soon. Do you want me to have Ryo give you a sedative for tonight?"

Kankuro asked with a hint of longing, "Will you stay with me tonight?"

Sakura assured him, "If you want me to, I'll stay as long as you need me," as she ensured his blanket was tucked in properly.

Kankuro softly said, "I want to have painkillers tonight so we can talk until we fall asleep, just like the days we were on missions."

Sakura nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes, and left the room to retrieve Ryo. She was only gone for a few minutes until she returned with him, holding a syringe in his hand.

Ryo placed the syringe cap in his mouth and carefully injected it into Kankuro's arms. Kankuro didn't question his decision to choose painkillers over sedation, considering it might be his last night alive. Ryo left the room, leaving the two of them alone together to have their moment.

Kankuro smiled at Sakura and said, "I know this is a bit delayed, but how did the exams go?"

Feeling the stress from the exams again, Sakura replied, "Yeah, the first round was strangely easy but challenging to understand. With only three questions, our team had to pass with at least a score of a hundred, but we couldn't go below that, or we'd fail. The other rule was that we could only get a maximum of a hundred and fifty, if I can remember. I threw all the memories in the back of my head for obvious reasons."

Kankuro lifted one eyebrow and asked, "Are you serious? Our exam was to answer the questions and get a passing score. Shikamaru, did you guys dirty on that one."

Sakura whined, "To make it more challenging, he placed all three team members in three rooms. So, we had to communicate with our team members about what we wanted to do to pass."

"Wow, how did you manage that?" Kankuro asked with complete shock.

"First, people tried to scream through the walls. Gaara would have used his sand tsunami to make everyone shut up," Sakura laughed, but her laughter quickly turned to tears. The tears poured out like rain. She couldn't contain her emotions any longer.

Kankuro glanced at her sadly and tried to cheer her up by saying, "I bet you a million Ryo that Naruto is on his way to save Gaara right now. He will make outlandish comments and use his shadow clones to save the day."

Sakura cried and started gasping for air as she breathed heavily, "Ever since that night, I haven't gotten that image out of my head. I'd have nightmares trying to chase after Gaara, lying lifeless in the grasp of that white bird. His face looked like he was already dead." 

"Calm down, you're hyperventilating," Kankuro said, squeezing her hand, "I should call a nurse to give you something." 

"Gaara's dead; I can't have this baby without him. I can't breathe," Sakura panicked. 

A few nurses were walking by the room on a routine walk to the vending machines. Kankuro called out to them, "Hey, somebody help her, please." 

The nurses quickly glanced into the room and charged inside to help Sakura. She had her hand on her chest, and she was bent over on the chair, unable to breathe. Kankuro struggled to lift his torso to get off the bed instead of rolling. His body felt almost paralyzed with a numbing sensation. He desperately wanted to help, but he saw the nurses controlled it. Sakura was lying back on the chair with an oxygen mask on her face. Her face permanently appeared worried all evening long. The lack of food added to her dizziness. 

A sad nurse turned to Kankuro and said, "We gave her some medication to calm her down, so she should be okay for now. For now, all we can do is pray for Lord Kazekage's safe return, or else Sakura might not be the same girl you grew up with." 

Kankuro whimpered, "What should I do now? I might be dead tomorrow. Who will help her get through the losses she will suffer?" 

The nurse sighed, "We will cross that bridge when we get there. For now, both of you need rest."

Kankuro whispered, "Yeah, okay." 

The room was silent as Sakura was still in her chair, feeling miserable inside her head. Kankuro watched her until they fell deep into an excellent slumber for over eight hours. 

The following day, Baki returned to the room with Ryo, Daiki, and Ginko, prepared to begin Kankuro's morning treatment. Right on cue, Kankuro was struck by a wave of intense pain, hitting him like a train. The medication from the night before had worn off, but Kankuro's adrenaline had kept him going until their arrival. He was shivering uncontrollably.

Ginko suggested, "I'll administer a sedative."

Kankuro vehemently protested, "No sedative. Give me more painkillers. I can handle it."

Sakura interjected, "Normally, I'd disagree with him, but he wants to stay awake in case... in case he doesn't make it through the day."

A heavy silence filled the room as they all absorbed the weight of her words. Ginko returned to the counter at the back of the room and provided additional painkillers, though this time, it seemed that they wouldn't be enough to alleviate most of Kankuro's pain.

Granny Chiyo returned to the room, her brother by her side, and observed Sakura as she held Kankuro's hand, offering her support while he clenched his teeth and shut his eyes in agony. 

Granny Chiyo checked his pulse again and softly remarked, "It's a miracle he's held on for this long."

As they all anxiously awaited Kankuro's treatment, hurried footsteps echoed through the treatment hall. Sakura's heart leaped with hope, knowing that help had finally arrived. 

With urgency, Temari rushed into the room, shouting, "Kankuro!" 

Following her, Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno entered the room, their expressions a mix of shock and concern at the sight of Kankuro in such a weakened state.

Standing in the doorway was their sensei, a Konoha Jonin with spiky silver hair, which was typically swept to his left side. His dark grey eyes bore into Sakura as he observed the situation. He wore the forehead protector of Konohagakure and his sturdy Konohagakure green flak jacket.

Granny Chiyo looked up at the Konoha Jonin in utter shock, her expression a mix of fury and disbelief at his very existence. Despite her old and aching knees, she charged towards Kankuro with the clear intent to engage in combat, exclaiming, "You jerk!"

The Konoha Jonin raised his arms defensively and asked, "Wait, what?"

Granny Chiyo hesitantly raised her fist and yelled, "Prepare yourself!" Her intent to fight was unmistakable.

Seeing the situation escalating, Naruto connected his index fingers to perform the shadow clone jutsu. His clones acted swiftly, restraining Granny Chiyo while he took her fist in his hands to stop her from attacking further. Granny Chiyo, undeterred, threw a punch at one of the clones, causing it to vanish.

Naruto, surprised by her actions, swung at her, and with agility, she caught his fist and skillfully evaded another attack from a different shadow clone. The entire room was filled with confusion and shock as no one could fathom the reason behind Granny Chiyo's sudden and dangerous act of violence in the middle of a hospital.

Naruto voiced his frustration, asking, "What do you mean by suddenly pouncing on Kakashi Sensei like that? You wrinkly old hag!"

Granny Chiyo, still determined and focused, ignored Naruto's words and directed her attention to Kakashi. She declared, "I'll never forget what you did back then! White Fang of Konoha, I shall avenge my son's death by defeating you today!"

Kakashi waved his arms defensively and tried to explain, "Er...no, you see... I'm..."

Granny Chiyo, however, interrupted him abruptly, declaring, "No questions or answers!"

Ebizo, standing directly before his sister, extended his hand to stop her and calmly stated, "Big sister, look at him. He resembles him closely, but this one is not the White Fang."

Granny Chiyo squinted her eyes, somewhat puzzled, and inquired, "Huh?"

Kakashi, trying to ease the situation, smiled and waved awkwardly, greeting them with a hesitant, "Uh...hello..."

Ebizo continued, providing more clarity, "Moreover, the White Fang of Konoha died long ago. Remember? When you received word of it, you cried tears of regret since you could not avenge your son. Isn't that so, sis?"

Granny Chiyo's expression changed as she realized the truth. With a wink and an awkward chuckle, she lied, "Gotcha, I was only pretending to have gone senile."

Sakura sighed and commented, "Despite the obvious drama, it's nice to see your home safe, Temari."

Temari, relieved to be back home, inquired, "I'm glad to be home, and I'm glad you weren't caught in all that happened. Where were you?"

Curious and concerned, she continued, "You were in the hospital, how come?"

Sakura, with a slightly hesitant tone, explained, "I did promise you I'd come here after the exams, and they said I'm pregnant. Eight weeks in fact..."

Temari sighed and responded, "Why am I not surprised. I can only imagine the mixed feelings you have about it."

Sakura admitted, "I'm managing."

Suddenly, Kankuro's distress intensified as he began to struggle for breath. He drooled and clutched his throat as if someone were choking him. Sakura, her eyes wide with alarm, released her grip on his hand and watched him flail around, spitting up as he struggled to breathe.

Desperate, Sakura cried out, "Kankuro!"

Sakura Haruno, her pink hair tied up, determinedly spoke, "Let me have a look."

Temari, holding Sakura back, nodded and said, "Please, do."

Addressing Kakashi Sensei and the rest of the group, Sakura Haruno requested, "Kakashi Sensei and the rest of you, please stand back."

Naruto complied, saying, "Got it."

Kakashi and Naruto left the room to sit in the hallway, accompanied by Ebizo and Granny Chiyo. With a focused expression, Sakura Haruno proceeded with her examination. She gently opened one eyelid at a time, using a flashlight to inspect his eyes. Then, she tilted Kankuro's head back, opened his mouth, and carefully inserted two fingers into his throat. Finally, she pressed her ear to his chest to listen to his heartbeat, her concentration unwavering as she worked to save his life.

"They seem to have used a heavy metal-based toxin. It's the type that acts upon the muscles to destroy the cells," Sakura Haruno diagnosed.

"Just from that brief examination..." Ryo began to ask.

Sakura Haruno, fully engrossed in her task, interrupted, "His medical records, please."

Ryo promptly handed her the chart on the clipboard and a piece of paper, saying, "Ah, here it is. This is the list of toxic ingredients. There are blank spaces here and here, but..."

Sakura Haruno, studying the records, concluded, "I can predict the general outcome. The cardiac muscles will be destroyed, and the heart could stop beating at any time, so it's difficult to say whether we can concoct an antidote in time."

Sakura's anguished cries filled the room as she desperately pleaded, "No, please, you have to do something."

"Isn't there anything we can do?" Temari, her voice filled with concern, inquired.

With a determined tone, Sakura Haruno ordered, "Please assemble the items I request immediately."

"Roger," responded the Medical Shinobi, swift to act.

Sakura Haruno acknowledged the limited options, stating, "It's quite a crude treatment, but it's the only option left."

She swiftly jotted down the necessary ingredients on a slip of paper and handed it over, prompting Ginko to rush into action. Holding medicine jars, he arranged them on the back counter alongside an empty bowl. Ginko deftly mixed the medicine into the large bowl and placed it on a portable table beside Sakura Haruno. With utmost focus, she began by carefully unwrapping the puncture wound on Kankuro's stomach, her palm hovering over the liquid in the bowl.

Sakura Haruno warned, "Hold him down firmly, as this will be a delicate operation." On one side, Sakura of the Sand held Kankuro's arm while Baki stood alongside her, securing his leg. Ryo and Ginko mirrored their actions on the opposite side, holding down his other leg. Temari, with determination in her grip, pinned his shoulders firmly.

Sakura Haruno invoked her jutsu, using her chakra to raise the medicine from the bowl. It took on the appearance of a giant, swirling bubble as she slowly lowered her hand towards Kankuro's chest.

"Here I go," Sakura Haruno announced. She began to gently press the liquid into his chest, but the intense pain proved too much for Kankuro to bear. He pushed himself up off the bed, arching his back and writhing in agony, making it a challenge for his friends to hold him down.

The room was filled with the harrowing screams of Kankuro's excruciating pain, an unbearable symphony of suffering. Sakura clung to him with all her strength, but her grip weakened as tears streamed down her face. The blood from her wounded leg dripped onto the floor, forming a somber puddle. Despite the unbearable pain, she felt a sudden, intense cramping in her uterus, a cruel reminder of the challenges she faced. Resolute, she refused to look down at her condition, knowing what it meant. In solemn determination, Sakura chose to remain silent as they grappled to restrain Kankuro in their desperate bid to save his life.