Kakashi, standing slightly off to the side, stepped forward and nodded in agreement."You're absolutely right, Inoiki. At the very least, this will hinder their operations. And now, thanks to your interrogation, we know the abilities of every Akatsuki member. We can prepare accordingly."
Inoiki gave a silent nod, his expression unreadable.
Just then, a subtle stir broke the tension — Gaara's fingers twitched, his chest rising more steadily with each breath. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open.
"Naruto..." he murmured weakly.
The moment Naruto heard his name, he rushed to Gaara's side and knelt beside him, eyes wide with relief.
"Gaara! You're finally awake!" Naruto said, his voice bright with joy and disbelief.
Gaara managed a faint nod."Thank you, Naruto... for coming to save me."
Naruto's smile widened, and for a moment, all the weight of the battle, the tension, and the loss faded into quiet relief between two friends reunited.
Naruto shook his head gently, his smile fading into something softer."It wasn't me who saved you," he said. "It was Granny Chiyo. She used some kind of jutsu to bring you back. She's just... fainted right now, after treating you."
With Naruto's support, Gaara slowly sat up. As his senses cleared, his gaze shifted toward Chiyo's still form. Her face was calm, almost peaceful, like she was simply resting.
But Gaara knew better.
He remembered the moment the One-Tail was torn from him—the cold grip of death, the void. And now, here he was... breathing again. Alive. That could only mean one thing.
Lady Chiyo had given her life to save his.
A heavy silence settled over him as the truth sank in. Then, Kankuro's voice cut through the stillness.
"Naruto," he said quietly, his expression grim. "She hasn't fainted."
Naruto stood up quickly, confusion and denial flashing across his face."Huh? What do you mean? She just fainted—she's exhausted from healing Gaara, that's all!"
Kankuro shook his head slowly, his voice heavy with sorrow."No, Naruto. That's not the case… She's gone."
Naruto blinked, stunned. The words didn't make sense at first.
Kankuro continued, glancing toward Chiyo's still body with a mix of grief and respect."Years ago, when we were researching how to give puppets life, Lady Chiyo led the team. During that time, we discovered a way to bring the dead back—but at a terrible cost. The jutsu required the user to sacrifice their own life in exchange. Because of that, it was deemed too dangerous and was classified as a forbidden technique."
He paused before adding solemnly,"That jutsu… 'One's Own Life Reincarnation'—she used it to bring Gaara back."
Everyone present who had sensed the complete absence of chakra in Chiyo's body already knew the truth in their hearts—she was gone. And from that absence, they could all infer the price she had paid: her life, in exchange for Gaara's.
Naruto stood frozen in shock, his joy at Gaara's return slowly giving way to sorrow. The weight of Chiyo's sacrifice settled heavily on him, and his expression darkened with grief.
Seeing this, Kakashi stepped forward and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder."Don't mourn like this, Naruto," he said gently. "What Lady Chiyo did—she did for the future of Sunagakure. More than that, she did it with faith in you and Gaara. She believed that you two could bring peace to this world. Don't let her sacrifice weigh you down—instead, carry her hope forward."
Ebizo, standing silently until now, added in a solemn tone, "My sister wouldn't have given her life lightly. If she believed in the two of you, then that belief was well-placed. Make her proud."
Naruto's sorrowful gaze shifted, slowly hardening with determination. He clenched his fists and looked toward the sky.
"I won't let Granny Chiyo's sacrifice be in vain," he said firmly. "I'll live up to her expectations—and I'll help bring peace to this world."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and the somber atmosphere gradually began to lift. A faint sense of relief and lightness crept back into the air. A few of the younger kunoichi, clearly moved by Gaara's selfless actions—his willingness to risk his life to protect the villagers during the battle with Sasori and Deidara—shyly approached him. Their expressions were a mixture of admiration and bashful affection, a quiet recognition of the Kazekage's growth and sacrifice.
With support from Kankurō and Temari, Gaara slowly rose to his feet. As his eyes scanned the crowd, they landed on Inoiki standing nearby. Without hesitation, he walked over to him.
"Thank you," Gaara said sincerely. "For coming to my rescue."
Inoiki offered a calm smile. "You don't need to thank me. I was simply following orders from the Hokage."
Gaara shook his head lightly. "Even so, I am grateful. And today, I formally lift any existing ban on your entry into Sunagakure. You're welcome here."
Inoiki nodded politely. "Thank you very much," he said. Though in truth, he didn't particularly care whether he was banned from Sunagakure or not—he was the kind of person who didn't dwell on politics. But as he often thought, why slap away a hand offered in goodwill? Sometimes, a simple thank you was enough.
He turned slightly, glancing toward the horizon. "Now, I think this is the best time for me to take my leave. My work here is finished."
Gaara stepped forward. "But you should come with us to Sunagakure. I'd be honored to host you as a guest."
Inoiki shook his head gently, his expression calm but resolute. "If it were any other time, I would gladly accept your invitation. But not today—not while I have him with me." He gestured subtly toward Deidara, who remained bound and subdued nearby.
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