Chapter 33: Painful Road Home

With her Shukaku sand hand cloaked in blue curse marks hand, she pressed him against the wall, initiating a suffocating grip. Sakura leaned in, her lips near Kenjiro's ear, whispering a silent melody that lulled him into a peaceful slumber. As he slowly closed his eyes and breathed gently, Sakura released his body, leaving him in a serene state. Walking down the hallway deliberately, she left a trail of sand in her wake. Groaning and roaring, she struggled to escape the emotional pain that gripped her.

Kankuro raised his arms, manipulating the blue chakra strings connected to his Black Ant Puppet. The puppet's stomach opened, releasing a torrent of blue chakra strings that swiftly entangled Kenjiro, trapping him within the puppet's chest. With a strained tone, Kankuro declared, "It's over, Kenjiro. I hope I never have to lay eyes on your face again."

Gaara turned to his siblings, a worried frown etched across his face, and inquired, "I'm at a loss on how to help her. What should I do?" 

Kankuro shifted his gaze towards Sakura, pondering the question. As much as he loved her too, he didn't have a clear answer. Each Jinchuriki faced unique challenges, and Sakura's recent trauma triggered a chakra manifestation unlike anything they had witnessed in years. Temari approached Gaara, letting out a sigh. She advised: "If your love for each other is genuine, you'll find the right words. Go to her, Gaara."

Gaara traced the sandy path that led directly to her, the enormous Shukaku's body shifting and dragging along. Passing her, he turned back and knelt in front of Sakura. His hands, tender and gentle, touched her peachy skin where the sand flaked away. Sakura's pupils resembled frying pans; she seemed absent, overwhelmed by the unbearable pain.

With a sorrowful expression, Gaara whispered, "I should have never left you alone. I'm so sorry."

Kankuro gently approached them, cried, and said, "It's all my fault. I should have tried harder to find him."

Temari rubbed Kankuro's shoulder and said, "Everyone tried our best, but the main focus was protecting the village."

Sakura's body continued to move forward as if she were in a trance controlled by Shukaku. Her lack of response indicated that Shukaku had taken over her body, her heart pounding visibly in her chest.

Kankuro cried out, "Why won't she answer us? Gaara, do something!"

Temari remained frozen in place, her childhood trauma resurfacing as she wondered what had happened to her beloved friend to turn her into the monster they had all feared.

"How can we help her?" Kankuro pleaded.

Ignoring his brother's distress, Gaara knelt in front of Sakura and calmly asked, "Why are you possessing her body like this? Is she resisting?"

Shukaku's voice sounded weak as he replied, "No, she isn't resisting. I feel her pain, and it overwhelms me. It's like the night you were betrayed by your own family. She refuses to emerge."

Gaara frowned and closed his eyes, delving into the depths of his inner turmoil. When he heard the slow, rhythmic sound of raindrops falling, he slowly opened his eyes again. 

In Shukaku's dimension, Gaara discovered the unchained beast nowhere in sight. His eyes scanned the darkness until he spotted Sakura in the distance, curled up on the floor, naked and in tears, struggling to gather her thoughts.

Kneeling beside her, Gaara gently moved her hair away from her face, cupping it behind her ear as he softly inquired, "What's troubling you?"

"He drugged and raped me," Sakura whimpered. "What if I become pregnant in the following week? I don't want to." 

"Stop, don't think like that. We will handle it if the time comes. Did he say anything to you?" 

Sakura nodded and wiped away her tears. She sat up, using her long hair as a shield, and uttered, "He told me nothing I didn't already know."

Gaara enveloped her in a tight embrace, a solitary tear tracing a path down his cheek. As the Kazekage, his duty to protect his people was paramount, but as a man deeply in love, he yearned to shield Sakura like a princess within fortress walls of stone and clay.

Gently brushing her hair, Gaara reassured her, "I will ensure he's buried so deep he'll never see the light of day again. He won't harm you ever again."

Concerned about his perception of her, Sakura queried, "Do I repulse you now?"

Gaara's response was swift and unwavering: "No, never. You're a warrior who stared death in the face, and I'm grateful you're here to share your story. There's nothing about you that could ever disgust me." He conveyed his unwavering support with a tender kiss and a tight embrace. Knowing that Gaara stood firmly by her side brought her solace.

Her gaze meeting Gaara's, Sakura gently traced the scar on her forehead as she spoke, "You should go. I can't bear the thought of facing the villagers now. I'll remain here, away from prying eyes, for what little time I have left. I don't want Kankuro to see me like this."

Gaara said firmly, "Don't play the victim; you're a Shinobi, a survivor. Remember that." He extended his hand, urging her to rise. "Come on, let's go home."

Sakura smiled and nodded at the love of her life. They opened their eyes, and the sand that covered Sakura's body gracefully descended to the solid wooden floor. As Sakura opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by her family.

Sakura stirred in Gaara's embrace, her form draped in a soft white robe. The brilliance of the light momentarily dazzled her, but she adjusted swiftly. Tenderly stroking Gaara's cheek, she murmured, "I'm sorry if I scared you. I guess I ruined our vacation."

"That's not important right now. What matters is that you're safe," Gaara replied, his gaze filled with concern.

Kankuro knelt beside them, his voice carrying a note of caution. "We should probably wait until tomorrow to leave and have her medically checked out before we do."

"That sounds like a wise plan," Gaara agreed.

"Okay, please take me to our room," Sakura requested gently.

With a gentle touch, Gaara lifted her into his arms and carried her to the family room. They settled her down on the Tatami mat and remained by her side until medical assistance arrived.

The Okami, dressed in pink robes, knelt beside the family and apologized. "My sincerest apologies, Lady Sakura. We won't charge you for the additional night of service."

Sakura turned her head to address the Okami, her tone gentle yet firm. "You've suffered a loss too. There's no need to cater to us. Take time to mourn with the others. She was precious and deserves a proper farewell."

The Okami bowed in gratitude before departing, leaving the family in solitude. As she retreated down the hallway to grieve with her fellow attendants, news of the girl's tragic fate in the garden emerged.

Seizing the moment, Temari voiced her concerns to the family, settling beside Sakura's head. "When were you planning to tell us about Shukaku? What's going on?"

Before Sakura could respond, Gaara stepped in. "She confided in us after our arrival, and we decided to keep it discreet, but now it's no longer a secret."

Kankuro rubbed the back of his head, adding, "We intended to inform you, but we were waiting for the right moment."

"How?" Temari pressed for clarification.

Gaara rose to his feet, gesturing for Temari to follow. "Come with me; we'll discuss this further. We still need to address the rumors and our unexpected visitor."

"Agreed," Temari replied, joining him in the hallway. He left Kankuro and Sakura in the quiet of the family room.

Kankuro tenderly draped a blanket over Sakura's form on the Tatami mat before leaving the room. Moments later, he returned with a soft pillow, carefully tucking it beneath her head to ensure her comfort.

"I'm okay, Kankuro, I promise," Sakura whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

"No, you're not okay," Kankuro said, carefully adjusting her pillow.

Sakura rose from the floor and tenderly held his face, smoothing away the creases of worry. She kissed his lips, whispering, "It's all over now, and thanks to you, I won't ever have to face Kenjiro again. You've been my hero from the very start. I owe my life to you."

"It's my duty to apprehend scum like him, but I failed to act swiftly enough. The bastard waited for you to leave the village before he struck. It's painfully obvious, and it's on me for not seeing through his plan," Kankuro lamented.

"We were caught up in the excitement of our family outing, not considering the potential risks to our safety. Our focus has always been on the village, and that's not your fault. He wanted to rape me until I dropped dead, but no matter how many times he does, he'll never break me," Sakura reassured him, caressing his face until he turned away, facing the wall.

Kankuro's fist collided with the wall, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I swear I'll kill him one day. He slipped through my fingers, and I couldn't protect you," he cried out.

Sakura's tears flowed freely as she pleaded, "Please, Kankuro, stop. You're scaring me."

Kankuro halted his pounding on the wall and tenderly brushed away his tears before sitting beside her.

Sakura's gaze lingered on the door, anticipating Gaara's return, yet he had not yet crossed the threshold. She hesitated to confront Kankuro with her tumultuous emotions anymore while he grappled with his sense of guilt.

Sitting beside her, Kankuro's voice was soft as he broached the subject: "What transpired back there? If you're not ready to discuss it, I understand. But I believe we must piece together the events, both for our understanding and to present a cohesive narrative to the council."

Sakura took a deep breath and replied, "I'm not sure you're ready to hear that. Besides, I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Kankuro nodded, respecting her decision to remain silent about her ordeal. He glanced at the door and noticed Gaara and Temari entering the family room. Keeping his head down, he avoided making eye contact with them.

Gaara and Temari glanced at the wall behind Kankuro, their expressions revealing their concern at seeing the damaged wall. They were about to ask what happened but may have already guessed the answer.

Temari frowned and remarked, "You need to learn to control your anger, Kankuro."

Gaara stepped in to defend him, saying, "He showed restraint with Kenjiro, so I believe he is doing his best under the circumstances."

"Fine," Temari sighed, relenting, "Let's go, Kankuro. The doctor has come to evaluate her. Let's give them some privacy."

Without a word, Kankuro followed his siblings out of the room. As they passed a kind female doctor in a white coat, she brought in a heavy bag of supplies and sat beside Sakura. Speaking softly, she asked, "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready," Sakura responded quietly.

The room fell into a hushed silence as the doctor prepared for her examination. The siblings stood on the other side of the room, silently waiting for her to finish. None of them exchanged words, understanding the gravity of the situation and the need for privacy. Soon, they would have to return to the village and ensure that justice was served for the harm inflicted by the criminal upon them and those who cared for them.