Chapter 29: The Truth Exposed

In the compact locker room, Sakura gracefully discarded her crop top and fishnets, unveiling the distinctive sealed mark nestled between her breasts. Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, she pondered the imminent revelation of the secret she had concealed for so long. A mix of relief and apprehension coursed through her; the burden of hiding her truth would soon be lifted, yet uncertainty lingered about their reaction.

As Sakura traced her fingers over the mark, she whispered, "I can't keep lying to them."

Swiftly, she shed her skirt and fishnets, slipping out of her slippers. Behind her, a door beckoned toward the private Onsen. Sakura fixed her gaze on the door, inhaling deeply. With a determined motion, her hands glided to the door's slit, opening the passage to the serene space.

Her enchanting eyes sparkled as she beheld the pristine wooden Onsen, set against a breathtaking backdrop of the desert and the verdant garden below. The billowing steam permeated the air, clearing her sinuses. Sakura immersed herself in the steaming water, contemplating how to embark on the forthcoming revelation.

The sliding door to the room glided open, ushering in Kankuro's presence. Seated and immersed in the timeless view of the desert, Sakura sensed his approach as the fragrance of puppet oil and face paint grew more pronounced. With a cheeky grin, he settled beside her and playfully remarked, "Hey, gorgeous."

Sakura, flustered, retorted, "Shut up."

Kankuro mischievously crept behind her and launched into a surprise tickling assault. Laughter bubbled between them, and he exclaimed, "Got you!"

Amidst the playful scuffle, Sakura attempted to push him away, urging, "Stop."

In an instinctive move, Sakura turned to shield herself, inadvertently exposing the substantial Shukaku seal on her chest. Her eyes widened as she instantly saw the joy dissipate from Kankuro's face.

The once-present smile on Kankuro's face vanished rapidly. His expression shifted to a frown as he swiftly caught her wrist, restraining her movements. An edge of urgency crept into his voice as he demanded, "What the heck did you do? Please tell me that is not what I think it is."

"I didn't want you guys to be upset with me, so I kept it to myself," Sakura whispered.

"You thought you could escape our anger for sealing Shukaku inside you," Kankuro argued, frustration evident in his tone.

Her eyes brimming with tears, Sakura pleaded, "Please, let me explain."

The sliding door parted, admitting Gaara with his protective sand trailing behind him. In a defensive stance, he bellowed, "Let go of her!"

Kankuro released his grip on Sakura's wrist, turning his attention towards his younger brother. She winced and massaged her wrist, subtly hiding the pain, turning around to shield her vulnerability from Gaara's gaze. Kankuro, with a clenched jaw and tears streaming down his face, argued, "Sakura's tossed her entire life away, so don't paint me as the villain."

Gaara, perplexed, countered, "What are you talking about?"

Kankuro crossed his arms, stepping aside to reveal Sakura standing in the spotlight, avoiding eye contact. She wept quietly, arms crossed protectively over her chest, whispering, "I'm sorry."

Gaara circled around the Onsen, approaching Sakura. As he entered the water, he gently grabbed her shoulders and guided her into his arms. Though uncertain about the unfolding situation, Gaara sought to comfort Sakura in the best way he knew.

Kissing her forehead, Gaara whispered, "I can't help you if I don't know what's going on, so tell me."

Sniffling, Sakura lifted her head from Gaara's chest and released her arms to reveal the Shukaku seal. The sight rendered Gaara speechless, confronted by the gravity of something surreal and unbelievable. His eyes widened, pupils shaking in a mix of shock and terror.

"I thought if I took away all your pain, you'd be happier, but I was too selfish to consider how you'd feel if it was me. I'm sorry; I only wanted to give you a better life," Sakura whimpered.

Kankuro inquired, "Where did you find Shukaku when you located the Akatsuki hideout?"

"Granny Chiyo said one of us from the future gave her Shukaku to keep safe. So she kept him in the temple underground until I was ready to claim him," Sakura explained, her voice filled with remorse.

Both Kankuro and Sakura stood in the Onsen, engaged in a tense exchange of arguments. Meanwhile, Gaara sat in the water, gazing at the undisturbed surface with wide eyes as if he had witnessed every one of his friends die before him. The weight of responsibility pressed on him — not only for his village but also for Sakura. Despite his deep love for her, he grappled with being the Kazekage, knowing he had to make difficult decisions.

Gaara whispered, "Let me tell you this one time."

The arguing ceased, and Sakura asked, "What is it?"

"You've placed me in a difficult position," Gaara admitted reluctantly. "If the Akatsuki came for you, I'd have no choice but to let you die or kill you myself."

Kankuro erupted, "You can't be serious?"

Sakura acknowledged and comprehended Gaara's stance; she furrowed her brow, nodded, and said, "I will accept those terms if you allow me to keep working as a Shinobi."

Interrupting them, Kankuro yelled, "Are you seriously agreeing with him right now?"

"Fine," Gaara sighed, leaning back in the Onsen to soothe his weary bones.

Kankuro crossed his arms and argued, "Why are you two ignoring me?"

"Hey, it's okay. Our job comes with risks, and you know that. I trust you'll always do your best to keep me safe."

Kankuro smiled and replied, "Yeah, you better believe it."

"Okay, let's worry about this later. I want to rest," Sakura said, yawning. The three of them quietly enjoyed their evening inside the Onsen. Perched birds atop the tree tops cheerfully chirped and sang. The soothing tunes lulled Sakura to sleep in the safety of Gaara's arms. As the Onsen dimmed, Sakura opened her eyes, realizing the passage of several hours. She sat up, left the soothing waters to dry off, and suggested, "We've stayed here long enough. Let's grab some dinner."

"Are we going to pretend the past few hours didn't happen?" Kankuro complained.

Crossing his arms, Gaara emerged from the water and affirmed, "That's precisely what we need to do to prevent the Akatsuki from finding out."

Sakura focused on Kankuro and proposed, "You go ahead. Give us a moment."

Kankuro grumbled assertively, "Fine, whatever."

With frustration, he swiftly exited the water, leaving the room and reluctantly granting the young couple a private moment. Though displeased, Kankuro opted for a peaceful departure.

Sakura gracefully navigated out of the water, slowly closing the distance to Gaara. Tenderly, she cupped his face in her petite hands and pressed her lips against his. Their love transcended any curse or the influence of a sealed-tailed beast.

"Uplifting the burdan you held for almost two decades brought me peace of mind. Please don't hold any of it against me," Sakura earnestly conveyed to Gaara.

Gaara remarked, "I won't, but when we return we must confront the council of what you told me."

"What, why?" Sakura inquired.

"We can't evade them; the consequences would be severe," Gaara asserted.

Sakura locked eyes with Gaara and sighed, conceding, "Okay, let's tell them after we return to the village."

Gaara gently reached for her hand, entwining their fingers. Drawing her in for another tender kiss, he opened the sliding door, inviting them to leave together.

In the locker room, neatly folded Yukata awaited them for the evening. Sakura blushed at the sight of the matching set and pointed it out to Gaara. He chuckled and lifted her Yukata, assisting her in positioning it before tying his own. They exited the cozy locker room and strolled back through the quiet hallways, embracing them.

Sakura felt an overwhelming sense of security with him by her side. Life seemed more than perfect with Gaara as her constant companion. In the heart of the traditional Japanese family room, the family sat at the Kotatsu. The air carried the delightful scent of dinner, and Nakai-San, adorned in pink robes, sat on the ground and arranged an assortment of small, artfully crafted dishes on the low table. Ceramic cups held green tea, completing the setting.

Temari wasted no time, expressing her enthusiasm, "This looks fantastic," as she eagerly reached for her chopsticks and a bowl of steaming white rice.

When selecting vibrant vegetables for her rice bowl, Sakura asked, "I don't want to be a bother, but do you usually have guests who aren't royal families here? How many tourists come through here?"

Gracefully balancing a metal tray with a ceramic tea kettle, Nakai-San responded, "We have many Shinobi from across the nations who come here on missions. We normally don't have many royal families come through here."

Sakura, gazing into the distance, quietly pondered. Temari inquired, "Is there something wrong?"

Sakura replied, "No, it's probably nothing," her attention still seemingly elsewhere.

Curiosity got the better of Kankuro, who dropped his chopsticks, demanding, "Okay, now I'm curious. What is going on with you?"

Gaara added, "You've been distracted since we stepped foot in the building. Was there something else bothering you?"

Sakura complained, "Give it a rest, you guys; I'm fine."

Kankuro, however, persisted and said, "She said something earlier about having an uncomfortable feeling like someone was watching her."

Gaara joined the discussion, crossing his arms and stating, "I vaguely remember that from earlier." The family's conversation continued, but Sakura, gazing into the distance, remained lost in her thoughts. The soft glow of lanterns cast a warm ambiance, creating an atmosphere of serenity. Sakura, enchanted by the authenticity of the setting, couldn't help but appreciate the beauty of the moment.

Suddenly, with widened eyes, Nakai-San gasped and dropped the tray. Shattering pottery echoed through the room, causing everyone to jolt in surprise.

"What happened?" Temari inquired, his gaze fixed on the Nakai-San.

The Nakai-San stammered, "I... I saw something in the garden outside. It startled me. I'm sorry I disturbed your dinner. It was probably nothing." 

A palpable tension filled the air as they exchanged glances. The Nakai-San kneeled to compile the pieces of ceramic on the tray. The atmosphere, once serene, now held an unsettling undercurrent. Sakura's curiosity mingled with a growing sense of unease. Kankuro leaned forward, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Temari swiftly rose from her seat, extending a helping hand to gather the shattered fragments of pottery scattered on the ground. Concern etched on her face, she inquired, "Are you okay?"

Nakai-San hesitated, her gaze lingering on the garden. "I... I'm not sure. It was a fleeting glimpse, but it seemed unnatural. I thought I saw shadows moving. It could have been an animal that snuck inside the garden. Your conversation spooked me, so I overreacted."

A collective hush enveloped the group. Gaara, typically unemotional, revealed a slight flicker of concern. An unspoken tension lingered in the air beyond the sliding doors.

As the others cautiously stood from the Kotatsu, still visibly shaken, Nakai-San pointed towards the garden. The exchange of glances among Sakura and the others deepened the sense of uncertainty.

Gaara touched Sakura's shoulder gently as he said, "Stay here, Kankuro, and I will check it out."

Obeying, Sakura settled back at the Kotatsu, patiently awaiting any reassurance from the boys. With cautious steps, Kankuro and Gaara ventured into the garden, ensuring their safety at every turn. Despite their thorough search, there were no signs of another human presence. It wasn't until the last bush that Gaara, after sifting through it, revealed widened eyes.

In a state of panic, Sakura queried, "What is it?"

Gaara reached into the bush with a significant smile, retrieving a small tan bunny rabbit with a white cotton tail. Chuckling, they approached the girls to reveal their discovery.

"Oh, my? Where did that come from?" Nakai-San inquired.

"It appears you were right. This little one must have snuck in here for something to eat. I don't usually see these rabbits in these parts," Gaara explained, handing the rabbit to Sakura for a gentle pet.

Pleased to find a harmless explanation, Sakura felt comforted as she cradled the fragile creature.

"What a relief," The Nakai-San expressed, gracefully exiting the room. "I'll be back in a few hours; don't hesitate to call me. I need to return the kettle to the kitchen."

The family reconvened at the table, picking up the remaining meal. Sakura sat contentedly with her rabbit, its wide eyes reflecting a sense of horror.

"You must be so relieved it wasn't an assassin or someone worse from the Bingo book," Temari observed.

"Yeah, instead, I got to make a new friend," Sakura smiled.

"That worried me for a minute because we're hunting a peculiar rogue Shinobi called a Phantom. When she mentioned a shadow, it made me nervous," Temari explained, her concern lingering.

"Enough," Gaara argued firmly. "I specifically instructed you not to disclose anything about the phantom Shinobi."

"Gaara, you can't keep hiding information from her. She's bound to find out when they eventually target the village," Temari defended.

"It does sound serious, Gaara. Shouldn't we be concerned?" Sakura inquired.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Gaara replied, his stoic expression revealing a hint of concern.

Kankuro pointed to the rabbit and remarked, "Hey, I think the rabbit died."

Sakura gasped, gently wiggling the lifeless creature, and exclaimed, "Oh, no. What happened?"

Kankuro chuckled and said, "You scared him to death."

"Shit, I guess I'll have to bury him in the sand," Sakura replied. 

"I'll be going to bed, you three," Temari said. "Don't stay up too late." 

"We'll be right behind you."