Naruto turned to Sakura, desperation clinging to his voice.
"Sakura… can you check Gaara? Maybe… maybe there's still hope."
Sakura's heart tightened. She knew the truth—but Naruto's eyes were pleading, full of fragile hope he couldn't bear to let go. Without a word, she moved to Gaara's side, kneeling opposite Chiyo. Gently, she placed her hand over Gaara's chest and closed her eyes, focusing her chakra as she examined him with utmost care.
Moments passed in heavy silence. Then she slowly opened her eyes and exhaled a long, sorrowful breath. She looked at Naruto and gave a faint shake of her head.
Naruto's world shattered.
Though a part of him had known—had felt the cold finality of Gaara's silence—the confirmation struck like a blade to the heart. Tears slipped down his cheeks, silent at first, then unstoppable.
His fists clenched. His grief twisted into anger.
He turned toward Chiyo, eyes burning with emotion, and pointed a trembling finger at her.
"It's because of you… and people like you!" he shouted. "You decide who becomes a Jinchūriki like it's nothing—like we're tools! Did you ever stop to think how we're treated? You made Gaara carry that burden… and now he's dead because of it!"
His voice cracked, overwhelmed by the weight of loss.
"If you hadn't sealed that monster inside him… he wouldn't have been hunted. He wouldn't have had to suffer… He wouldn't have died!"
Naruto broke down completely, falling to his knees beside Gaara, his sobs echoing through the hollow cave.
The others watched in silence—Chiyo included. Her eyes, once sharp and calculating, were now dim with guilt and reflection as Naruto's words pierced through her like a thousand senbon.
Sakura rose to her feet, moved to Naruto's side, and softly rested her hand on his shoulder.
"Hey… Naruto," she said softly. "I know how much this hurts. I understand."
Naruto said nothing. His eyes remained fixed on Gaara, his shoulders trembling beneath Sakura's touch.
Just then, Chiyo's expression shifted. Her aged face, once heavy with sorrow, now carried a quiet resolve—an unwavering determination.
She turned toward Sakura and spoke with calm clarity.
"Sakura… will you hold onto this for me?"
She held out Sasori's cylindrical core—the last remnant of her grandson. Sakura hesitated only a moment before stepping forward and taking it gently from her hands.
Lowering herself beside Gaara's lifeless body, Chiyo laid her hands on his chest, her chakra swirling over him in a steady, concentrated flow.
Naruto noticed and immediately stood, alarmed.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
He moved to stop her, but Sakura stepped in front of him, raising her arm across his chest.
"Wait," she said firmly.
"Sakura…?" Naruto's voice faltered, confused and on edge.
Sakura shook her head slowly, her eyes never leaving Chiyo. She gently but firmly pushed Naruto back.
"She's not hurting him," she said softly. "She's doing something else… something selfless."
Naruto looked on, stunned.
Sakura's gaze grew somber, her heart tightening as the truth settled in.
She knew now what Chiyo was about to do—what it would cost her.
Chiyo was using the forbidden technique: One's Own Life Reincarnation. A jutsu that gives life… in exchange for the user's own.
She was choosing to save Gaara at the cost of her final breath.
Naruto's eyes lit up with sudden hope.
"Is she healing Gaara? That's great!" he exclaimed, a smile breaking across his face.
But the others didn't share his enthusiasm. They exchanged solemn glances—because they all knew the truth.
Gaara was dead. No medical ninjutsu could reverse that.
And Chiyo… Chiyo was no fool. If she was still channeling chakra into Gaara's body, there could only be one reason.
Neji narrowed his eyes, observing Chiyo closely with his Byakugan. He watched as chakra poured steadily from her body, rapidly depleting. It wasn't just a healing jutsu—this was something else. Something deeper. More dangerous.
"There must be a cost," Neji thought grimly. "No jutsu like this comes without one."
Just then, Chiyo's voice rang out, soft but resolute.
"Naruto… come here."
Still believing she was healing Gaara, Naruto rushed to her side and knelt across from her, facing Gaara's motionless form.
Chiyo looked at him, her eyes tired but kind.
"You know… I've done many things in my life," she said. "And most of them—I regret. So many mistakes. So many wrong choices. But today… this… this is the one thing I can finally say is right."
Naruto listened, confused but attentive.
"You're not a hypocrite, Naruto," she continued, her voice weakening. "You're sincere. Determined. You carry something rare… something pure. I believe in you. And I believe that, with Gaara by your side, you might truly bring peace to this world."
As she spoke, the chakra radiating from her hands flickered—growing weaker, fading in and out like a dying flame.
Naruto noticed it too, and quickly leaned forward.
"Can I help? I have plenty of chakra! Just tell me what to do."
Chiyo nodded, a faint smile on her lips.
"Place your hands over mine."
Without hesitation, Naruto reached out and placed his hands gently over hers.
In an instant, the unstable chakra flowing into Gaara steadied. The flickering ceased, the energy stabilized.
For the first time, there was a sliver of real hope.
----
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