Chapter 26: Family Reunited

As the sun ascended over the colossal cliff shielding the village, its warm rays cast a gentle glow upon Granny Chiyo's freshly laid grave. A stone marker adorned with the Sunagakure hourglass logo and her name was a testament to her legacy. Clad in an exquisite black Yukata with a matching Obi, Sakura stood gracefully beside Gaara, her attire accentuated by a single white embellishment on both sides of her collarbones. Gaara, donning a white Haori over his black Yukata, wore his Kazekage hat with quiet dignity.

The elder siblings, dressed in solemn black Yukata, inclined their heads respectfully as they paid their final respects to Granny Chiyo. In the forefront stood Ebizo, the last surviving direct family member, his grief palpable in the lingering moments of the seemingly eternal funeral. Still reeling from the recent battle, Sakura stood steadfast as Gaara's trusted Advisor.

The crowds dissipated, and the only figures remaining were the village elders, casting their gaze toward the Kazekage family. Gaara's attention, drawn behind, prompted the others to turn in unison. Addressing the elders, Sakura acknowledged their patience, expressing gratitude for their understanding of the significance of fallen Shinobi.

Baki, a nod of acknowledgment in response, assured them that the Konoha Shinobi was recuperating in their hospital rooms. The elders offered the freedom to return after the meeting, but Gaara, with quiet determination, declined. "No, it won't be necessary. We will meet you there."

The Sunagakure Council of Elders retraced their steps to the village, leaving the family alone with the solemn grave marker. After Granny Chiyo's sacrifice, Gaara, grappling with newfound perspectives and changed beliefs, felt a profound rebirth. The weight of her sacrifice left him speechless, and Sakura, sharing in the sad moment, sighed before accompanying her fellow Shinobi to the Kazekage office building, where the meeting awaited.

On one side of the expansive meeting table, the dignified council of elders of Sunagakure took their seats. 

At the table's endstanding behind them, Baki overseeing the gathering, where the young couple sat, still cloaked in bandages. On the opposing side, the elder siblings shared the space with a few remaining wise council members. Baki initiated the conversation, carefully broaching a delicate topic.

"Before we begin, I'd like to apologize to all of you for the loss you've endured," Baki offered with sincere empathy.

Facing the elder siblings, Goza nodded and added, "Indeed, our sympathies are with you. However, I mean no disrespect when I assert that we have pressing matters to address."

Understanding the urgency of the situation, Baki redirected the focus diplomatically: "While acknowledging the importance of our present concerns, let us not forget the seriousness of the recent events. Sakura, the sole witness to the mission, has survived to share her report."

Gesturing toward Sakura, Baki continued, "Her firsthand experience holds valuable insights that we cannot afford to dismiss."

Sakura felt nervous, with many eyes staring back at her. She knew some would judge her actions while others would agree with her selfless gestures. Sakura bellowed to the crowd so all could hear, "Before we left on the rescue mission, Baki informed us of your plan to prioritize the village over Lord Kazekage because the Konoha Shinobi took on the mission to rescue him."

Gōza asked, "Would you truly choose to rescue one life over a hundred thousand?" 

Gaara argued, "Let her finish speaking before you ask questions." 

Gōza turned his head away and frowned. He chose not to argue with the Kazekage, knowing how much he cared for Sakura. 

Continuing the story, Sakura said, "At the end, we decided I would go with the Konoha Shinobi, but Granny Chiyo argued to tag along to see her grandson one last time. We ran for days to the Land of Rivers to the Akatsuki hideout. When we arrived, Guy and his students were waiting to help invade the hideout. Neji Hyuga confirmed that the Kazekage was inside, but his sight couldn't see what was happening inside the cavern."

Gaara clasped his hand in front of his face to attempt to comprehend her story comfortably. He asked, "That doesn't make any sense. The Byakugan has the unique ability to see through anything. How could he not know?"

"You'd have to ask him what he meant. Anyway, we opened the cave, and Sasori was standing beside Deidara, who was sitting on Lord Kazekage's corpse."

Everyone in the room reacted disgusted except for Gaara, who shrugged it off. Deidara was dead anyway, so why should he care? 

Temari growled, "He leisurely sat on him, waiting for you to arrive to test your emotions. Regardless, sitting on a Kazekage's corpse should be punishable by death." 

Kankuro argued, "We should add his name to the Bingo book to hunt him down." 

Sakura shook her head. She replied, "No, he's dead. After Gaara tore off his arm, Kakashi tore the other arm off. Without it, Deidara could no longer perform his clay jutsu. When we surrounded him, he used that final opportunity to use himself as a clay bomb by consuming it."

Kankuro crossed his arms. "Suicide bombing; that's very clever. Did you find pieces of him anywhere?" 

"No, the explosion disintegrated his body," Sakura said.

"A small suicide bomb would have been no more extensive than a hand Gernade or a landmine. There would have been large chunks of him everywhere. He most likely escaped." 

Gaara interrupted, "We have yet to discuss Sasori's unlawful action. Did anyone collect a report from Kakashi?"

Baki nodded, weaving the tapestry of Granny Chiyo's final battle with her grandson into the collective narrative. He shared the intriguing details of how Sasori managed to defy the aging process, highlighting his macabre collection of human puppets. The revelation of the puppets strewn across the battlefield, eerily resembling lifeless bodies, elicited disbelief from the crowd. The possibility that Sasori, once human, could commit such heinous acts hung heavy in the air.

But Baki still needed to be finished. "That's not all," he continued, drawing the audience deeper into the unfolding saga. "Kakashi wrote that Sakura had stayed behind with Gaara's body, shielding them from the blast with her sand. Using his shadow clones, Naruto rescued them just in the nick of time before the explosion obliterated the hardened sand shield."

Gaara's eyes bore disappointment as he turned them towards Sakura. His voice, a blend of concern and reproach, cut through the somber air. "You knew the sand shield wouldn't hold. Why would you do something so reckless?"

Sakura's voice trembled as she confessed, "I'm sorry, I couldn't live in a world without you in it. If I had returned alive with your body, Baki said they would have chosen me to be the next Kazekage."

Kankuro, with an abrupt push of his chair, stood up, his tone filled with frustration. "You were planning on leaving me here to defend the village alone?"

Crossing her arms, Temari interjected, "Hello, I'm here too if you haven't forgotten."

Kankuro, disregarding Temari, continued to raise his voice at Sakura. "Why would you be so selfish to do that to me out of all people?"

Baki, aiming to redirect the conversation, swiftly slapped his hand on the table. "We all can agree that a recovery mission for every puppet on the battlefield is mandatory. We can finally lay Lord Third to rest."

Gaara, with a nod, added his directive. "Kankuro, pick a team to go with you on the recovery team. I expect you to take no more than a week to complete your mission. Would anyone else like to add anything before we conclude this meeting?"

Kankuro forcefully pushed back his chair, the sharp sound resonating through the room as he clicked his tongue and walked out, leaving an atmosphere of tension behind. The elders discreetly exited, steering clear of confrontation, while the remaining siblings and Sakura lingered in the room.

Observing the dwindling crowd, Temari began to make her exit. Her words were gentle as she addressed Sakura, "I'll leave the two of you alone."

A palpable silence enveloped the room. Sakura anxiously awaited Kankuro's response, uncertain how to navigate the aftermath. Gaara rose from his seat, gently gripping her chin, assessing her for injuries.

"Are you alright?" Gaara inquired.

"I'm okay, I promise," Sakura assured him.

"Sasori stabbed you in the fight. You should take it easy for a few days."

"Deidara is still out there. I should be hunting him down."

"That's Kankuro's job, so stay out of his way. Besides, he doesn't appear happy with you right now."

Sakura sighed heavily, contemplating how to distract herself from the situation. She responded, "I'll talk to him when he's ready. For now, I should finish some permit requests."

Gaara shook his head firmly, expressing, "I don't want you doing that. Please go home and rest, or try to spend some time with Ebizo."

Sakura nodded, quietly departing from the meeting room to gather her thoughts. As she contemplated the recent events, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had let down the siblings who cared deeply about her. The weight of their concern pressed on her, knowing she would willingly sacrifice herself for their sake.

Locating Ebizo took some time for Sakura. He stood in a daze, fixated on his sister's grave. The absence of his sister's lively presence weighed heavily on him. Approaching him, Sakura gently inquired, "Did the two of you spend much time together?"

Ebizo slowly gazed toward her and replied, "Yes, we did. We knew the day would come, but it always happens when we least expect it."

"She didn't go down without a fight, I assure you. Sasori poisoned her, so she used the last vial to save my life."

"So either way, she wasn't planning on making it home alive."

Sakura groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I can't believe she's gone. Now, I can't become the village Jinchuriki."

Ebizo revealed a scroll from his robes, displaying his sealing scroll. He explained, "Never have I heard anyone say they wanted to be a Jinchuriki until Chiyo told me everything about you and how you would do anything to protect the Lord Kazekage and the village hidden in the sand."

Sakura's eyes widened, her heart racing as she asked, "How did you get that?"

"Chiyo gave it to me before she ran off on the rescue mission. She told me we had another Shukaku, but how we obtained him was top secret."

"I'm Gaara's Advisor; I would have known about this if it were true."

Ebizo smirked. He said, "Did I say top secret? I meant only she knew of it. She said something about it was given to her by a Shinobi in the future. Strange, isn't it?" 

"Why does that sound so familiar to me? I don't remember." 

"That's not important anymore. Follow me; we have a lot of work to do." 

Sakura walked silently alongside Ebizo as they ventured outside the village, the air thick with anticipation and uncertainty. The mystery of Ebizo's intentions lingered, intensifying Sakura's curiosity. He led her beyond the concealed walls of the hidden sand village, guiding her toward the imposing structure of the Shukaku temple.

Within the temple, an eerie stillness enveloped them as they traversed the solidified sand walls. The echo of their hushed whispers accompanied their every step, creating an atmosphere of solemnity. Sakura noticed an unusual symbol adorned with Japanese characters along the northern wall. Ebizo gently pressed his palm against the wall, waiting for it to illuminate before withdrawing his hand. A set of stairs materialized beneath them.

Despite the foreboding surroundings, Sakura pressed forward with unwavering confidence. Her determination echoed in each step as she embraced becoming the strongest Shinobi in Sunagakure.

Entering what seemed like an empty room, Ebizo halted a few feet from the door, extending his arm to prevent Sakura from advancing. Cautioning her, he warned, "Be careful where you step. You might release Shukaku accidentally."

Sakura's eyes widened in bewilderment. The darkness gradually revealed a massive figure in front of her, and as her vision adjusted, she recognized Shukaku's imposing face. Stepping back, she made eye contact with the colossal entity in the human dimension, quietly calling out his name. In response, Shukaku tapped his nose against the palm of her hand.

"What took you so long?" Shukaku queried a tone of amusement in his voice.

"You could have told me where you were all this time," Sakura retorted, giving him a stern glare.

Raising his head, Shukaku laughed, revealing that he had communicated this to Sakura multiple times, though she hadn't realized it.

Interrupting the moment, Ebizo urged them to proceed before attracting undue attention. Sakura enthusiastically pumped her fist in the air, her eyes twinkling in the dark. "Okay, let's do this," she declared.

Ebizo nodded and unfurled a scroll on the ground, executing specific hand signs to summon the eight trigram seal. Around Sakura, eight small candles formed a circle on a small round brick platform. Chakra chains emanated from her chest, attaching themselves to Shukaku. His physical form transformed into Chakra, entering Sakura's body. A round seal materialized on her chest, just before her heart. Sakura had finally become the Jinchuriki that she had envisioned.

The sky took on a warm orange hue as the two stealthily returned to the village, retracing their steps to Granny Chiyo's grave. After bidding their farewells, Sakura walked all the way home, mindful of her stab wound on the lower abdomen. Examining the seal on her chest, she whispered, "If I'm not careful, Gaara will see it. I'll have to bandage my entire torso."

Using the remaining roll, Sakura strategically bandaged her chest to conceal the mark. Taking a deep breath, she stood up to do her usual chores and prepare dinner for her family's return that evening. Typically, the gang members arrived one at a time, with Gaara always being the last to return.

Temari entered the kitchen and saw Sakura pull ingredients from the fridge. She kindly announced to draw attention without startling her, "Hey, I'm home."

Sakura turned with a smile, "Hey, I wasn't expecting you home for another few hours."

"I had to come home to make sure you were alright. Let me give you a hand," Temari offered.

Sakura smiled, juggling a white onion and green onions in her left hand while carrying garlic and ginger to the table on her right. "It wouldn't hurt to have some company while I cook. Would you mind chopping these into big chunks for me?"

Temari grabbed a knife from the counter and deftly sliced the onion into four pieces. Curious, she inquired, "What are we making?"

"We're preparing sauce for the chicken teriyaki," Sakura responded. Setting up a saucepan with mirin, soy sauce, sake, and brown sugar, she looked forward to serving a comforting meal for the group again. However, a sense of unease lingered as Sakura realized how swiftly everything had returned to normal, almost as if the recent events had never occurred.

The sisters collaborated seamlessly on their chicken teriyaki dinner for the four of them. While Temari continued chopping green onions and cabbage, Sakura readied the chicken for the stove.

Suddenly, Kankuro strolled in through the front door, his attention immediately drawn to the enticing aroma of teriyaki sauce. Sakura paused, locking eyes with Kankuro as she fried the chicken on the stove. Without uttering a word, Kankuro walked upstairs to his room, seeking relaxation after a demanding day. The atmosphere in the room grew awkwardly silent, and Sakura decided not to confront him until he was ready to talk.

Temari sighed heavily, gently placing the green onions on the stove to be fried. "Don't take it personally, okay? He blames himself for what happened to the baby and for allowing you to leave the village to save Gaara."

Sakura whispered, "It sounds like he blames me for trying to sacrifice myself to protect everyone. The blast may have destroyed the shield, but the shield made it so that it didn't reach the rest of them running for cover."

Temari's eyebrows furrowed, a subtle wrinkle forming between them. The corners of her mouth downturned as she remarked, "You don't have to lie to us, Sakura. A part of you wanted to die with Gaara. It's okay to feel that way, but we won't allow you to pull the same stunt twice."

"I'll keep that in mind," Sakura replied. She smirked, removing the chicken from the frying pan and transferring it to the cutting board.

A few moments later, Gaara entered the house. He stared at Sakura through the kitchen doorway, patiently waiting to catch her attention. Sakura glanced over her shoulder, meeting his gaze as if he wanted a private conversation.

Temari picked up on the subtle message and said, "I'll take care of dinner, go on. You two need some alone time."

Sakura chuckled and followed Gaara to the dining room, where they settled in. Gaara gazed at her with his trademark stoic expression and inquired, "How are you doing? Did everything go okay with Ebizo?"

"Ebizo is doing his best to cope without his sister. He spends hours staring at her grave. You know, that could have been me," Sakura shared.

Gaara maintained his impassive demeanor but looked back at her with an emptiness that spoke volumes. After a moment, he finally spoke, "I'm sorry for what I put you through. Next time, I will talk to you before deciding about our future."

"I'm sorry too. I'd rather not discuss the unborn child if that's alright. I was thrilled at the thought of becoming a mom, but it will take time for me to recover emotionally. Do you want to talk about it?" Sakura asked.

Gaara shook his head and replied, "No, it's alright. We shouldn't have planned for one so soon, especially with the possibility of war looming. Besides, we're not even married yet. As much as I hate to say it, it wouldn't be right politically either."

Sakura's eyes widened as she considered his perspective, realizing the validity of his words. The Akatsuki posed a constant threat, capable of sparking a war with any of the villages. Some of these rogue Shinobi held power that could reshape landscapes. She sighed, "Yeah, I suppose you're right."

Gaara gently took her hand, tenderly kissing it. His decisions weighed heavily on him, and he felt deep remorse for the turmoil his choices had caused. Their private moment, however, was interrupted by Temari entering the room. It marked the beginning of a small family feast, the first since Gaara's kidnapping. Temari served them plates with a dish crafted with love, following Sakura's guidance. In that moment, an indescribable warmth enveloped Sakura. Her family's love and concern spoke louder than any words could, offering a sweet conclusion to a harrowing mission.