Chapter 9: Kidnapped

The Kazekage siblings finally returned home after many months of honing their leadership skills. As he stepped through the door into the mudroom, he promptly removed his shoes, the familiar routine grounding him. But before he could take another step, Sakura leaped into his arms, her eyes gleaming joyfully.

"So, you're finally back," she exclaimed.

He smiled, holding her close. "I'm home now."

Eagerly, she inquired, "So, how was it?"

Laughter filled the room as they shared their happiness, their bond more potent than ever. Gaara gently carried her to the living room couch, where he cradled her on his lap, a gesture reminiscent of a child anticipating Christmas gifts from Santa. He kissed her tenderly and ran his fingertips through her hair before finally responding. He showered her with tender kisses and ran his fingertips through her hair before addressing her question.

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "So, does that mean you're the Kazekage now?" 

Gaara shook his head, his expression serious. "No, not yet. The final decision rests with the council elders. I just hope they don't choose Temari; that would be the worst decision. If they do pick me, I'll become the youngest Kazekage."

Sakura smiled warmly. "And undoubtedly the greatest the world has ever seen."

Kankuro's voice, tinged with playful jealousy, interrupted their moment as he entered the room. "Hey, what about me? Wouldn't I make a great Kazekage?" 

Sakura stood up from Gaara's lap and warmly embraced Kankuro, saying, "I wish you the best of luck too, Kankuro. I'd love to see you add another word to that already impressive puppet master title." 

Kankuro blushed, touched by the sweet compliment.

Temari intervened, her tone carrying an air of finality. "They've made their decision."

Sakura quipped, "Well, that didn't take too long."

Gaara nodded in agreement. "Indeed, they didn't need much time to come to a decision. Come with us, Sakura. I want you to be there when they make the announcement."

"I'd be delighted!" Sakura exclaimed with enthusiasm.

In the Kazekage's office, two senior officials were buried under mountains of paperwork. Upon their arrival, the officials paused their work to address them.

"So, the previous Kazekage left us with a lot to finish, including establishing a Ninja Academy," one of the officials mentioned.

Gaara nodded. "Father must have drawn inspiration from Konoha for that."

Kankuro expressed his reservations. "Are you seriously asking us to teach kids around our own age to fight?"

"Yes, I am. Starting this afternoon, the three of you will begin training the next generation of ninja."

Temari cut in, reminding them, "Hold on! I thought you found out who the next Kazekage is."

The other official said, "Oh right, yes, we know the next Kazekage, and we'll announce the decision soon. We just need to sort out all this paperwork first."

A formidable assembly had gathered in front of the Suna Academy, comprising over thirty students and Gaara and his siblings. The three Sand siblings stood united at the forefront, with Sakura behind them. These young, eager students faced them, their determination emanating from within, ready to fight for the people they held dear. Temari assumed her role as the instructor and addressed the eager class. Her words were vital as she began, "Before we delve into combat training, it's crucial that you carefully select a weapon that resonates with both your physical abilities and mental disposition."

Amidst the students, a young girl politely raised her hand, seeking clarification. She voiced her concerns, "I apologize for interrupting, but is it mandatory for all of us to choose a weapon?"

Kankuro, curious about her inquiry, inquired, "Why do you ask?"

With sincerity, the girl responded, "I'm concerned that if everyone wields weapons, accidents might happen. Someone could get seriously hurt."

Gaara, customarily reserved, attempted to explain, "Your connection to your weapon is like... never mind." 

To repair his embarrassment, Sakura said, "It's a bit like the chakra coursing through your veins. It becomes a part of you, a reflection of your identity."

Gaara's smile graced as he nodded, feeling more at ease having articulated his thoughts. The atmosphere lightened, allowing him to continue, "Your weapon isn't just an object; it's intertwined with who you are."

Temari, resuming her address, emphasized the seriousness of the training, cautioning, "Remember, this isn't a game. We're preparing you for real-life situations."

Kankuro chimed in with a reminder, "If you approach this with a negative mindset, you won't survive out there."

The girl who initially questioned the need for weapons offered a soft-spoken apology, "I'm sorry."

However, a fellow student beside her seemed less sympathetic, "Look, if you're going to rile up Gaara with silly questions like that, you're on your own."

Temari then disclosed the group dynamics for their training, stating, "For your combat training, you'll be working in groups with one of us. You have the freedom to choose your preferred instructor."

She leaned closer to Gaara, offering some lighthearted advice, "By the way, could you smile? You seem quite intimidating right now. No one will want to be in your group otherwise."

A calm conversation ensued among the students. One girl couldn't contain her awe as she whispered, "I overheard my dad say that Gaara is the Hidden Sand Village's ultimate weapon."

Another child whispered with fear in their voice, "I've heard that if he loses control, he could level the entire village. He's really scary. I don't want to be in his group."

The children quickly divided, choosing Temari or Kankuro as their instructors, leaving Gaara alone. Pride gleamed on Temari's and Kankuro's faces as they realized how much they were looked up to.

Feeling empathy for Gaara, Sakura stepped toward him, her cheeks rosy. She asked hesitantly, "Would you mind if I became your student?"

Gaara's lips curled into a warm smile as he replied, "But you're not a student at the Academy. Are you certain about this?"

Innocently, Sakura grinned, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I want to learn to be a shinobi, and who better to learn from than my boyfriend?"

Gaara nodded, accepting her request. "Okay."

The other children began selecting weapons from the tables and eagerly began practicing with their new tools. Sakura surveyed the remaining weapons thoughtfully, feeling a bit out of place among the younger children. She stepped aside, eyeing the unusual array of weaponry on display – heavy bats with menacing spikes, various types of swords, and more.

Concerned, Gaara asked, "Is something wrong?"

Sakura picked up a slender, lightweight sword lying on the table's edge. She said, "I'm not entirely sure what to choose, but I suppose this will do."

Gaara gently removed the sword from her hand and placed it back on the table. He then selected a smaller weapon and introduced it to her, saying, "This is called the rope javelin."

Surprised, Sakura admitted, "I've never heard of that before," feeling somewhat unprepared for this field exercise.

Gaara positioned himself a short distance away from her with a graceful leap. Holding the handle of the rope weapon, he swung the rope around with a sharp edge attached to the end. His movements were fluid and precise as he continued to explain, "The blade at the end of the rope isn't primarily for the offense. Its purpose is to keep your enemies at bay, allowing you to use the cord to immobilize them."

Sakura stood still, watching as the rope whirled around her, its intricate dance winding around her waist. Gaara then reeled her in closer, their lips meeting in a brief kiss. He continued his instruction, emphasizing, "You need to practice until the rope becomes an extension of your own body."

Sakura nodded, absorbing his words. She glanced at the crowded practice area where children wielded sharp-edged weapons nearby. Understanding the potential danger, she turned to Gaara and suggested, "This place seems a bit crowded. Could we find somewhere else?"

Gaara, his arms crossed, surveyed their surroundings and agreed, "Yes, I can arrange that."

With his command, a platform of sand lifted them both and glided silently through the village, transporting them to the familiar field where they had once met secretly. As the platform gently placed their feet on the ground, Gaara used his sand manipulation to create several sand dummies. He positioned himself beside them, silently watching Sakura as she continued training.

Sakura felt embarrassed as she noticed Gaara's gaze fixed on her during her practice. This awareness made it challenging to swing the rope with total concentration. However, she was determined to overcome her feelings for Gaara, realizing that she would need to fight alongside him without distraction one day. So, she pushed through, swinging the rope repeatedly, trying to master its use.

Gaara's voice broke her focus as he spoke, "Keep it up. I'll check on the others to see what our next step should be."

"Alright," Sakura replied, her voice slightly strained from the effort. "But don't be gone for too long. I'm afraid I might accidentally cut myself swinging this blade around like this."

Gaara cautioned her, "Do not let fear control you or the weapons in your hands. Otherwise, there will be consequences. With Shukaku inside me, I do not sleep, nor do I exhibit weakness or fear towards him. If I did, he would threaten to take control."

Understanding his message, Sakura nodded and watched as he walked away from the training field. She continued her practice diligently, swinging the rope repeatedly until she finally managed to wrap it around the target. A triumphant smile crossed her face, but her joy was short-lived as the rope unraveled. With a sigh, she retrieved it, determined to try again.

Suddenly, a woman's voice echoed from above, from the village's desert cliffs. Sakura gasped and saw strange figures standing high on the village wall. The woman addressing her had an unusual shinobi headband from a village Sakura didn't recognize. Her distinctive appearance included short blue hair with yellow highlights, pale purple eyes, and an unsettling smile. She continued, "I'm sorry, but you must come with us."

Sakura couldn't help but smirk defiantly, "I don't know who you are, but you don't belong here. Fuck off."

The Shinobi with the white headbands quickly closed around her, leaving her no means to defend herself. She instinctively pulled out her Kunai, but her attempts at self-defense were abruptly interrupted. A man with short, black hair and heavy bags under his eyes emerged. Sharp, mobile blue tentacles shot out from his back and attacked Sakura. She tried to dodge them but could only evade one of the tentacles with just one Kunai. From behind, another tentacle struck her, rendering her unconscious.

With a certain level of satisfaction, they gently placed Sakura on a metal stretcher wrapped in fabric. While she remained in deep slumber, they carefully carried her away from the Land of Wind, venturing as far as the Land of Rivers. Days passed, and Sakura continued to sleep soundly. When the group finally arrived in the Land of Fire, the man suddenly dropped Sakura onto the ground, jolting her awake.

Blinking to clear her confusion, Sakura shifted her gaze to see Gaara standing alone, facing off against the man who had kidnapped her. She hadn't realized he cared for her this deeply.

The group leader taunted Gaara, "You think a ninja without a weapon scares me?"

A light beam surrounded the leader's body, revealing a mysterious metal chest piece. It appeared to be some advanced device. Suddenly, from behind the leader, the device unleashed a network of blue tentacles that spread menacingly across the battlefield. Although visibly pained, Gaara pulled out his Kunai and tried to evade the tentacles. One, however, managed to slice through the long white scarf wrapped around his body, cutting his flesh underneath. He grunted in pain as he clutched his wound.

Weakly, Sakura called out, "Gaara..."

Gaara responded with a gritted determination, "I'm fine; worry about yourself."

The man continued to taunt Gaara with a sinister smile. "I've heard about the monster inside you. Is that true?"

Gaara, his patience wearing thin, emitted a low growl in response, refusing to dignify the man's question. He clutched his bleeding wound tightly.

Suddenly, a young boy with spiky blonde hair, clad in an orange jacket and sweatpants, dashed onto the scene. His vibrant blue eyes gleamed, and the dark blue headband across his forehead marked him as a shinobi from Konoha. He shouted defiantly, "Back off!"

As the metal man began to form hand signs, Sakura felt herself losing consciousness due to her injuries. She could only watch helplessly as a powerful gust of wind was unleashed at the young boy.

When she awoke, she found Gaara meticulously untying the fabric that had bound her to the metal stretcher. The metal man was still locked in combat.

Sakura whimpered in pain, her voice trembling, "Gaara... What's happening?"

Gaara leaned in closer to her, his face etched with concern. "One of the Jonin informed me that four Shinobi, who call themselves the Celestials, are after me to take Shukaku. They threatened to kill someone close to me every day until I surrender. We've requested backup from Konoha. We've managed to defeat all of them except for this one named Seimei."

With whatever strength she could muster, Sakura inquired, "Is that...?"

Still grappling with his injury, Gaara replied while wincing in pain, "Yes, that's Naruto Uzumaki."

Sakura helped Gaara move further from the ongoing battle, guiding him to lean against a substantial boulder. She applied pressure to his wound, trying to alleviate his pain.

Seimei's words rang out with conviction as he addressed Naruto, "In times of war, our village is constantly targeted and attacked, all because of the fear that our unique ninja tools might be used against others. You take our inventions and repay us with bloodshed. Despite our mastery, our people are forced to bow to the will of the so-called 'Great Hidden Villages.' We intend to use Shukaku to defend ourselves."

Without a moment's pause, Seimei expertly wielded his weapons, summoning fire, ice, and wind aimed at Naruto, who lay on the ground, battered by the previous onslaught. Gaara, displaying remarkable resilience, gently pushed Sakura away so that he could kneel on one knee. He clapped his palms together, forming a protective sand shield around Naruto. Seimei, however, refused to relent, launching a relentless assault against the security with all his might.

Gaara's weakened voice resounded with determination as he declared, "Your feeble attacks are far too weak to break this defense. I will protect him with everything I've got."

Beneath them, the ground trembled, causing Sakura to scream as she collapsed onto the grass next to her injured boyfriend. Metal structures began to rise from the earth, forming a protective barrier in sections. Gaara knew he couldn't allow Sakura to get caught inside it, so he pushed her aside, relinquishing the sand shield that was safeguarding Naruto.

Fury coursed through him, and he unleashed his frustration by pounding his fist against the unyielding metal barrier. "Damn him," he muttered.

Sakura, her hands pressing into the earth for support, fought to rise and reached inside the metal cage for Gaara. With reassurance in her voice, she said, "Gaara, I'm okay." She interlocked her fingers with his, an act that helped to soothe his tumultuous emotions. However, the battle was far from over. Naruto's calls resounded as the metal panels began to close, one after the other.

Sakura's voice quivered with panic, "No, what do I do?"

Gaara, determined to protect her, released his hand from hers, ensuring their fingers wouldn't be sliced off as the panels were sealed shut.

"Don't worry," he assured her, "This isn't over. Konoha has strong Shinobi."

The round metal cage now completely encased Gaara. His laughter echoing through the cell, Seimei began to perform hand signs. Chakra radiated with a blue glow all over the cage enclosing Gaara.

Naruto, a mixture of desperation and anger in his voice, yelled, "What are you doing?"

Seimei's laughter continued, sinister and haunting. "You'll see."

The blue chakra blazed like voracious flames, and inside the cage, Gaara covered his ears, letting out a guttural scream in his deep voice. Seimei then revealed a white casket before Naruto. In a flash of blinding light that left Sakura temporarily blinded, she saw Seimei vanish and reappear, his entire being glowing with a pure white aura. A golden halo adorned his once-short black hair, which had grown long and white. His attire had transformed into flowing white robes as if he had become a divine entity.

Desperation gripped Naruto as he attempted to leap over the metal cage and force it open with his bare hands, all while engaging in a fierce battle against Seimei.

Tears streamed down Sakura's face as she pleaded, "Gaara, don't give up."

Summoning every ounce of her strength, she moved closer to the barrier, mirroring Naruto's efforts to try and pry open the cage. Together, they called out to him as Gaara's sand shield began to crack, fractures webbing across his face. Seimei's malicious blue tentacle whizzed around the cage and struck Sakura's arm. She let out a piercing scream and crumpled onto the sand. The sand beneath her quickly stained red as she clenched her wounded arm. Naruto spun around, his eyes aflame with anger, and yelled at Seimei, "Damn you! She has nothing to do with this. Leave her alone."

Inside the cage, Gaara's screams transformed into a thunderous roar. The cell ruptured open, and from the swirling smoke, a colossal Shukaku claw adorned with eerie blue markings emerged. Naruto swiftly scooped Sakura up, pulled her away from the battleground, and shielded her from the ensuing onslaught of sand and metal fragments. Sakura peered through the dust-choked air toward Gaara. Half of his body had morphed into Shukaku, but it seemed he was no longer Gaara. The creature's appearance and behavior were nothing short of monstrous.

Battered and bloody, Naruto faced Sakura, his voice determined, "Go, get out of here, will ya."

"Not without Gaara!" Sakura exclaimed.

Sakura Haruno smiled and said, "Glad you made it here safe, Ino, Choji." 

A male shinobi with long dark hair and a white coat with pale eyes, like Hinata, had the skin around his eyes bulging as he viewed the battle. He said, "What in the world is going on there?" 

Another man with a green body suit and short black hair asked, "What do you see, Neji? What is it?" 

"I have no idea, Lee."

Beside them, a strange male shinobi with sunglasses and an overly large coat said, "Nothing, good." 

Hinata said, Looks like Rock Lee, Neji, and Shino are here too." 

Sakura of Suna painfully watched Sakura Haruno heal her wounds with her chakra. A green aura surrounded her wound. In a lot of pain, Sakura said, "That one called himself Seimei and said he was the founder of the village of artisans."

Rock Lee said, "We battled one with similar armor with the power to absorb one's chakra."

Frustrated, Shikamaru frowned, "We've got to do something."

Seimei said, "I never imagined I would be fighting Shukaku himself."

In agonizing pain, Gaara contained Shukaku, and the sand on his body collapsed. He's become weaker than he was before. Sakura of the sand called out to Gaara, but he could not answer her. 

Temari said, "He's using all of his strength to fight odd the transformation."

Shikamaru asked, "But why?" 

"Not without Gaara," Sakura declared through gritted teeth, her arm still oozing blood.

Suddenly, two figures materialized behind them. One of them was Temari, her clothes in tatters, but her spirit unbroken, ready to rejoin the fray. Beside her stood a young man of similar age, his dark eyes focused on the ongoing battle, his long black spiked hair pulled up into a messy knot. His dark green vest bore the marks of previous skirmishes.

Observing the chaos before them, the male companion mused, "Oh, man. Is that what I think it is?"

Temari confirmed with a grim nod, "Yeah."

From a distance, a young girl with short dark blue hair and pale eyes appeared, her tan puffy coat contrasting with her blue ankle-high shorts. Her Konoha headband was casually draped around her neck. She rushed to Naruto, calling his name. Alongside her was a girl with short pink hair, donned in a striking red dress.

Naruto shifted his gaze from the concerned girl with short blue hair to the girl with short pink hair and said, "Hey, Hinata." Then, turning to the other Sakura, he added, "Sakura..."

Sakura of Suna remarked in a quiet tone, "Your name is Sakura too..."

Sakura Haruno beamed and giggled, "Yeah, I've heard. Shikamaru told us. He's our squad leader today."

Shikamaru and Temari approached their respective teams, clearly concerned about everyone's well-being. Temari knelt beside Sakura from Suna to assess her shoulder wound. She asked, "Are you alright? Haruno, can you help?"

Sakura Haruno nodded and began to channel her healing abilities to tend to Sakura from Suna.

In the distance, three more Shinobi from Konoha stood on guard, vigilant and ready to assist. Among them was a blonde Shinobi with one portion of her hair tied back while the other half concealed her left eye. She wore a purple dress. She reported, "We're here."

A larger, rotund Shinobi, sporting a green jacket and a white scarf, trailed behind her. His brown hair had an unusual pigtail-like spike poking from under his Konoha headband.

Emerging from the dense forest, Kankuro rejoined the group, accompanied by a male shinobi distinguished by his striking white jacket, sharp fangs, and cat-like eyes. A small white puppy nestled within his coat added an unusual touch to his presence.

Kankuro hurried over to Sakura, his concern palpable. He inquired, "What happened?"

Sakura from Suna offered a grateful smile. "Kankuro, I'm relieved you're unharmed."

Kankuro let out a weary sigh, his worry evident in his voice. "Did you try to help Gaara? You could have been killed."

Sakura from Suna's voice quivered as she explained, "His life was in danger. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."

Kankuro's tone softened, mixed with a hint of exasperation. "I swear, every time we leave you alone, something dangerous happens to you."

The Shinobi shifted their attention towards the battlefield, where Gaara was still undergoing his transformation into Shukaku. Seimei stood there, his laughter echoing across the desolate landscape, his patience unwavering as he awaited Gaara's complete transformation.

Seimei said, "A Shinobi must abandon emotion if he's ever to obtain ultimate power."

More sharp tentacle blades aimed to strike Gaara, but he dodged all three with no more than torn clothing. Once he landed back on both his feet, he smiled at Seimei. 

Seimei asked, "Why so cocky?" 

Gaara replied, "When I was trapped in that cage, do you think I was just sitting on my hands doing nothing?" Once again, Gaara slapped his hands together, "Sand tsunami!" 

The cliffs surrounding everyone crumbled and became sand. In complete shock by Gaara's power, Sakura watched as the tsunami of sand came tumbling down towards the group. She leaped away from danger with all his chakra strength with the others. Soon, nothing was left but Gaara standing out in the field on top of his creation. Seimei somehow survived and burst a gust of wind out of the sand to escape. 

Neji said, "He's draining the last of Gaara's chakra."

Sakura of the sand asked, "What, how?" 

Kankuro answered, "Neji can see what we can't with his Byakugan."

Sakura replied, "Incredible." 

Using the sand particles in the air, Gaara formed a Shukaku spear with red markings and chucked it toward Seimei. Once it struck his chest, the metal on his body shattered, leaving him still wearing white robes. 

Seimei panicked, "How did you?" Seimei crumbled into the sandy ground before finishing his sentence, allowing Gaara to bury him deep within the earth, up to six feet below. At that moment, tiny sparkling particles seemed to dissipate from where Seimei had fallen, as if his soul were dissipating into the void. The battle ended, but Gaara, weakened and drained, couldn't remain standing. He collapsed, though he managed to stay conscious.

Sakura, from the Sand Village, rushed to his side, joined by Gaara's elder siblings. With gentle care, Sakura cradled him in her arms as he trembled from weakness. She asked with concern, "Are you alright, Gaara?"

Still shivering from the depletion of his chakra, Gaara replied, "I'll be fine."

The young Suna couple succumbed to exhaustion as the adrenaline rush faded, falling asleep atop a mound of heavy sand. The Konoha Genin arrived and, recognizing the severity of the situation, decided to transport the Suna Genin to Konoha, where they could receive the medical attention and rest they desperately needed. 

Upon waking, she found herself in a hospital bed, three other empty beds scattered with tossed sheets beside her. Temari occupied a mattress on the opposite side of the room while Kankuro fiddled with a box of broken puppet parts nearby. Positioned near the doorway, Gaara, shirtless and bandaged, fixed his gaze on her.

"So, you're awake," Gaara said, his voice soft and concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine now. Thanks," Sakura replied, offering a grateful smile.

"I got you something small," Gaara said, a blush tinting his cheeks. "I know it's not much, but I wasn't sure what to get you."

With a sense of anticipation, Gaara handed her the small wrapped box. Sakura carefully removed the red bow and opened the box, revealing a delightful assortment of strawberries and strawberries covered in various types of chocolate. There was white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, bacon chocolate, chocolate with nuts, and even caramel chocolate. Sakura's face lit up with joy.

"No, it's perfect. I love strawberries. How did you know?" Sakura asked, genuinely touched by the thoughtful gift.

"I had a little help," Gaara admitted, glancing at Temari. "But I didn't expect him to go this far. You've become quite the man, Gaara."

"I'm just glad everyone is okay," Sakura said as she started munching on the strawberries.

"Are you really that hungry? You're going to eat them all now?" Temari teased.

"Save some for later. Wait until you're out of the hospital," Gaara added, gently pulling the strawberries away from her.

Gaara set the strawberries on the table beside her and then checked Sakura's wounds to see if they had correctly healed. However, Sakura had other plans. She playfully pulled him into bed with her, and their affectionate gestures quickly escalated into a passionate kiss.

Temari couldn't help but playfully chide them, "Oh my! Get a room, you two."

Kankuro joined in, exclaiming, "Come on, really? Save this for when we get back, will you? And pick a time when I don't have to walk in on it, for crying out loud."

Feeling uncomfortable, Kankuro sat back on his bed, gathering his broken puppets into a small bag. He avoided eye contact with everyone, feeling helpless as his beloved puppets had been destroyed in battle. His own injuries were a result of not having their protection. "Damn it, what am I doing lying around? I've trained with Granny Chiyo. I should be helping out here in the hospital," Sakura declared, feeling restless.

"Sakura, get back in bed!" Gaara admonished, worried about her health.

"No, I need to redress all of your wounds and—argh!" Sakura began to say before she suddenly felt weak and started to collapse.

Gaara acted swiftly, using his sand to gently lift her back onto the bed. A Konoha nurse rushed into the room, immediately noticing that Sakura's wounds were bleeding.

"You mustn't move," the nurse urged. "You've reopened those fresh wounds, and they took quite some time to repair. Let me call someone to tend to this."

"You see what you did," Gaara sighed in frustration.

"We'll give you all new bandages, and then you'll be safe to leave. But please, make sure she doesn't move around too much," the nurse advised.

"Give us a sedative or three, and we can guarantee that," Temari suggested with a smirk.

"Fine, whatever!" Sakura exclaimed.

A medical ninja arrived to tend to Sakura's injuries while the rest of the group helped replace bandages. The room fell into silence, with no one mentioning the people they had killed or the intense battles they had fought.

The following day, Gaara created a comfortable sand bed for Sakura, ensuring she was well-rested and relaxed during her recovery.

"Will you promise to stay still?" Gaara asked, his concern evident.

"I can't promise that if something happens..." Sakura started, but Gaara interrupted.

"Nurse, we need some tranquilizers for the road," Gaara said, his tone firm.

"Gaara!" Sakura exclaimed, her voice tinged with frustration.

"I don't want you to hurt yourself," Gaara stated firmly, emphasizing his worry.

Sakura relented and agreed to take the medication. The three siblings promptly returned to the Sand Village, and Sakura spent three long days recovering. Finally, she awoke in the Suna hospital, greeted by an angry Granny Chiyo. Sakura sat up, avoiding eye contact, clearly unhappy with her waking circumstances.

Granny Chiyo's voice conveyed anger as she scolded Sakura, "Trouble doesn't find you, dear. You find trouble for yourself. Why didn't you run as soon as you saw those rogue Shinobi?" Sakura pouted and crossed her arms defensively, retorting, "No, this time I was targeted, and they were after Gaara and Shukaku. Somehow, they knew about him and managed to infiltrate the village without being detected."

Granny Chiyo let out a weary sigh, her expression reflecting a mix of frustration and disbelief. "I am still trying to piece together what happened, but I suspect some of the council members orchestrated the attack, hoping to eliminate Gaara so they wouldn't have to appoint him as the Kazekage. How disgraceful. The Kazekage's children are here to see you. I'll inform them that you're awake."

Granny Chiyo abruptly stood up and left the room without another word. Sakura lay back down, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. Suddenly, Gaara appeared, looking down at her.

"Oh, hey, Gaara," Sakura greeted him.

"Are you ready to go home tonight?" Gaara inquired.

"Yeah, you bet," Sakura replied.

"You had me worried sick. Don't do that again, okay? I feel like you don't trust me," Gaara confessed.

"I trust you more than anyone. It's just... it would be nice for me to save you for once if something were to happen to you. I'm sorry if that caused you so much trouble," Sakura explained.

"No," Gaara reassured her, a small smile on his face.

Gaara assisted her in preparing to go home, carrying the supplies and medication she would need. The two of them shared a smile, relieved to be together again. Temari and Kankuro had also returned and were accompanied by gardeners to repair the gardens at their house. Gaara and Sakura settled onto the couch, with Sakura cuddling up to him and brushing his hair affectionately.

"When do you think the elders will make a decision?" Temari wondered aloud.

"I know, right? After everything we've been through, I expected at least some word from them," Kankuro added with frustration.

"The council of elders mentioned they would say something today," Gaara explained.

"Be patient," Sakura advised with a giggle.

"Easy for you to say. It took them so long to decide I finally finished repairing both of my puppets," Kankuro complained.

An elder arrived at their house and entered on his own, smiling brightly on his aged face. The four eagerly looked at him, their excitement palpable.

"We've made a decision. Head over to the Kazekage's office," he informed them.

The four exchanged smiles, eager to hear the news. They rushed to the Kazekage's office, where the elders stood surrounded by stacks of laws, policies, and future plans to improve Suna's quality of life.

"Gaara! You are the next and fifth Kazekage. Your strength and leadership have impressed us, and because you are the fourth's strongest child," the elder sitting in the office chair declared. "Congratulations."

"Yes!" Sakura cheered, her joy evident.

"Really? But the eldest sibling..." Temari began to express her disappointment.

"Don't look at me. I had nothing to do with this. I am as disappointed as you are. I would have been a better Kazekage, but whatever," Kankuro lamented.

"I'm not finished," the elder continued. "Sakura will be your assistant, handling scheduling and everything else you need. Use her as you see fit."

Sakura rejoiced, but Gaara frowned and held her back to stop her. "I can't use her like that. I will not allow it."

"Gaara, come on! It means I can see you all the time now. Don't forget you are the boss now," Sakura insisted.

"I can let you lead our Counter Terrorism Division from now on, Kankuro. That will be one of my first tasks as Kazekage. Next, I will make sure my father's policies for who gets to be a Shinobi and who doesn't are destroyed and renewed."

"Great start, Gaara," the elder commented.

"With all due respect, sir, you are in my chair," Gaara pointed out.

Sakura squealed with joy and held onto Gaara's arm. The elderly man sighed and stood in front of the desk. Sakura walked him to his chair and allowed him to sit down. He placed his hands on the desk, flipped through some paperwork, and scanned the room.

"So, tomorrow, as I've informed all the villagers, we will have a day for you to give a speech. I'll let everyone know tonight that you are the new Kazekage," the elder announced.

"That's fine by me. I hope no one stirs up trouble because of the past they thought they knew," Gaara responded.

"That's what your speech is for. Make us proud, Gaara," Temari said with a supportive smile.

Sakura joined Gaara at his new desk. He sat in his newly acquired chair, glancing around the room. Framed photos of previous Kazekage's were neatly arranged on a shelf. Allied Agreements with other villages were stacked on filing cabinets. Well-organized paperwork lay on the floor nearby. Sakura sat on his lap, looking out the window behind them, taking in the breathtaking view of their village. Together, the sand siblings and Sakura were determined to protect Suna.

"So, what do you want to do now, Kazekage, sir?" Sakura inquired.

"You don't have to be so formal already," Gaara replied, his cheeks slightly flushed. "Fine. What would you like to do now, Gaara?" She asked again.

"I would like to go home with my girlfriend," he said, a small smile gracing his face. "Alone."

Kankuro uncomfortably left the room, no longer interested in their conversation. Temari smiled and winked at him before following Kankuro.

"We'll be on our way. Come to the rooftop in the morning. Don't be late. Have a good rest of your day," said the old man, waving goodbye as he left with the other elders.

Gaara crossed his arms and reclined in his chair, closing his eyes. Sakura giggled and continued gazing out the window at the setting sun, her hand resting on Gaara's chest.

"What are you doing?" Gaara asked, his cheeks turning even redder.

"I said we'd celebrate if you finally became Kazekage, remember?" She whispered in his ear.

Gaara stood up, walked out of the room, and continued blushing. He raised two fingers to wave Sakura over, and she happily obeyed, enthusiastically approaching him.

"Let's go home already," he said.

"Judging by your eyes, you need a bit of rest tonight before the big day," Sakura remarked.

"No, I don't need any rest. Most of the time, Shukaku keeps me awake at night, and I can never sleep anyway."

"So, are you up for a fun night?" Sakura winked.

"It has been a long time, hasn't it..."

"Come on, hurry up!"

Sakura grinned, treading Gaara home. She unlocked the entrance and turned on all the lights in the cleared, well-furnished house. Sakura brought him upstairs to their cleansed bedroom. A feverish make-out led to a quick stripping. She pushed him onto the bed and jumped on top of him. He rolled her over doggy style, holding her wrists behind her back. Still modeling her stockings, Gaara tore one off to shove in her mouth as a gag. Ramming his penis inside raw, humping her like an excited little rabbit. The other stocking he used to tie her wrists together and turned her around, perforating it inside as far up as he could to release his little swimmers. Sakura sat beside him and kissed him as he caught his breath. They fooled around all night until midnight.