Chapter 30: 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 door to the room glided open, revealing the entry of one of the boys. As he stepped into the Onsen, Sakura discerned his presence, the distinct scent growing more potent with proximity. The unmistakable fragrance of puppet oil and face paint filled the air, leaving no doubt that it was Kankuro. He settled beside her as she continued gazing at the desert's timeless expanse. His voice broke the silence, a playful remark slipping through, "You are so beautiful, even from behind."

Sakura blushed and retorted, "Shut up."

Kankuro held her waist, caressing her higher until he groped her breast and said, "Come to Papa."

"No, Gaara's going to kill you for this," Sakura whimpered. 

"Don't lie, I know you like it," Kankuro said. 

Without a second thought, Sakura spun around in self-defense, inadvertently revealing the massive Shukaku seal on her breasts. Her eyes widened as she observed the fleeting joy on Kankuro's face.

The smile that had adorned Kankuro's features disappeared within seconds. His expression morphed into a frown, and he swiftly seized her wrist, preventing her from evading his scrutiny. With an urgency in his voice, he demanded, "What the hell did you do? Please tell me that is not what I think it is."

Sakura whimpered, "I didn't want you guys to yell at me, so I didn't tell you."

"You thought you could avoid us getting angry by keeping the fact that you sealed Shukaku inside you a secret," Kankuro argued. "I can't lose you, not like this."

Tears rose in Sakura's eyes, and she pleaded, "Please, let me explain."

The sliding door to the room opened, and Gaara entered with his sand hovering protectively behind him. He bellowed, "Let go of her!"

Kankuro released his grip on Sakura's wrist and turned to face his younger brother. She cradled her wrist, massaging it to alleviate the pain, and turned away so Gaara couldn't see her. Kankuro clenched his jaw, tears streaming down his face, and argued, "Sakura flushed her entire life down the drain, so don't make me out to be the bad guy."

"What are you talking about?" Gaara demanded.

Kankuro crossed his arms and stepped aside, revealing Sakura standing in the spotlight, avoiding eye contact with them. She quietly wept, arms crossed over her chest, and whimpered, "I'm sorry."

Gaara circled the Onsen, approaching Sakura from the opposite side. As he immersed himself in the water, he gently took hold of her shoulders, pulling her into the comforting embrace of his arms. Though uncertain about the situation, Gaara felt an innate need to offer solace to Sakura.

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

Sniffling, Sakura lifted her head from Gaara's chest, loosening her arms to reveal the intricate Shukaku seal. The sight left Gaara momentarily speechless, struck by the surreal and unbelievable nature of the revelation. His eyes widened, pupils trembling with a mixture of shock and dread.

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

Kankuro interjected, "Where did you find Shukaku when you discovered the Akatsuki hideout?"

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

As Kankuro and Sakura engaged in a tense exchange, Gaara sat in the Onsen, his gaze fixated on the water. His eyes held a haunted expression as if he had witnessed the loss of every friend right before him. The weight of responsibility pressed upon him, not only for the safety of his village but also for the complex situation involving Sakura.

Gaara's voice carried a weight of solemnity as he whispered, "Let me make this clear."

The heated exchange between Sakura and Kankuro subsided, and Sakura, intrigued, inquired, "What is it?"

"You've placed me in a difficult position," Gaara expressed, a furrow forming on his forehead. "If the Akatsuki came for you, I'd have no choice but to either let you die or take your life myself."

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

Acknowledging the gravity of Gaara's words, Sakura frowned, nodded, and replied, "I accept those terms, but I request permission to continue serving as a Shinobi."

Kankuro interjected again, "Are you seriously agreeing with him right now?"

"Fine," Gaara conceded. He sighed and reclined in the Onsen, allowing the warmth to soothe his tired body.

Kankuro, with crossed arms, protested, "Why are you two just ignoring me?"

Sakura reassured Kankuro, "It's part of our job. We face risks, and you've always done your best to keep me safe."

Kankuro grinned and affirmed, "Yeah, you better believe it."

"Alright, let's put this aside for now. I need some rest," Sakura declared, yawning. The trio spent the rest of the evening in quiet companionship within the Onsen. The birds perched on tree tops added a cheerful melody to the ambiance, and the soothing tunes eventually lulled Sakura into a peaceful slumber 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 glared at Gaara and suggested, "You go ahead. Give us a moment."

Gaara closed the door behind him, allowing them a private moment together. He wasn't pleased about it, but he respected her decisions. Sakura gracefully navigated through the water, slowly closing the distance to Kankuro. 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.

"I know I hurt you, and I'm sorry. Our village is filled with extraordinary people, but not all of them can protect themselves. Please don't hold any of it against me," Sakura earnestly conveyed to Kankuro.

Kankuro nonchalantly shrugged and remarked, "Fine, but you owe me one, Princess."

"What would I owe you?" Sakura inquired.

"You could leave Gaara, and spend more time with me," Kankuro softly proposed. "If that's alright with you? We never know how long we have to live, so why not?"

Sakura locked eyes with Kankuro, absorbing the weight of his question. Despite her efforts to bury the pain of the past, she pondered if Kankuro might be onto something.

She gracefully emerged from the Onsen, feeling the brisk breeze caress her skin. As her hand met the wooden sliding door, Sakura responded, "I'll think about it, okay?"

Kankuro rubbed his head, replying, "Sure, yeah. It doesn't have to be right now."

Sakura entered the locker room, where a neatly folded Yukata awaited her for the evening. She secured it around her body and strolled down the hushed hallway back to their family room. 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."