I carefully picked up Gaara's lifeless body and made my way back to the cave where my team was waiting.
"Gaara, chill out. I'll figure out a way to bring you back," I thought, giving him a quick glance.
Inside the cave...
Lady Chiyo, Sakura, and Kakashi had just taken down that creepy puppet master, Sasori.
Kakashi looked pretty beat from using his Sharingan too much.
"You gonna be alright, Kakashi?" Lady Chiyo asked, while Sakura helped him up.
"Yeah, you look pretty wiped out. I did what I could to heal you," Sakura added.
"Don't worry about it. This always happens when I overdo it with my eyes, remember?" Kakashi replied with a tired smile.
"Just like back on one of our first missions," Sakura said, thinking back to the Land of Waves.
"Exactly. I just need some rest, and I'll be back up," Kakashi assured her.
"Alright, now that we're done here, we should find Naruto. He might need us," Sakura suggested.
"For some reason, I doubt that boy needs any help," Lady Chiyo remarked.
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked, puzzled.
"There's something about him. When he speaks, there's this powerful, confident vibe. He's different," Lady Chiyo explained.
"Yeah, he's changed a lot over the last three years. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it myself," Kakashi added, recalling how Naruto had flown in front of him. "I just hope he keeps growing and stays on the right path," he thought.
"Let's head outside," Lady Chiyo said as the three of them made their way to the cave's exit.
The moment they stepped outside, I appeared in front of them, carrying Gaara.
"Oh, you guys finished your fight too," I said, landing in front of them.
"Yes. Did you defeat the Akatsuki member you were after?" Kakashi asked.
"Yeah," I nodded. "What happened to you, Kakashi?" I asked, noticing how exhausted he looked.
"It's just exhaustion from using my eyes, no big deal," Kakashi said, trying to sound nonchalant.
After a while, everyone—me, Kakashi, Sakura, Lady Chiyo, and Team Guy—stood around as Gaara's body lay on the ground.
Just when we were about to lose hope, Chiyo stepped forward, kneeling beside Gaara. A soft blue glow radiated from her hands.
"What're you doing?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
"That technique, huh?" I started, but Chiyo shot me a look that made me trail off.
"...Are we really okay with this? She's about to use that Jutsu, which means she'll..." My thoughts were interrupted by Chiyo. "You've done well today. Care to lend a hand here?" Lady Chiyo asked, glancing at me.
"What do you need?" I asked, moving closer to Gaara.
"Just place your hands atop mine," Chiyo instructed calmly.
"I've made plenty of mistakes in my time," Chiyo began, her voice filled with regret. "But now, as my time winds down, I might actually get something right. The villages of the sand and the leaf... I think the future's going to break from the past."
"Naruto, I have a request. You and Gaara share something no one else can understand—the pain, the loneliness. I'm asking you to help Gaara," Chiyo said, her eyes meeting mine.
Memories of my own struggles as a Jinchuriki, the isolation, and the pain, flashed through my mind. I thought of Gaara, his eyes lifeless, reflecting our shared torment. The connection ran deep.
Despite the newfound recognition from my friends, my journey had been anything but easy. My earlier years were marked by loneliness and a desperate yearning for acceptance, a sentiment that resonated deeply with Gaara's story.
Gaara, unlike me, had grown up in total isolation, without friends, his existence marred by the burden of being a Jinchuriki. Yet, in this shared hardship, I saw not a foe but a kindred spirit, a brother bound not by blood but by fate.
"I got this... Promise!" I said, my voice steady and sure.
Gaara's eyes fluttered open, and the first thing he saw was his people gathered around him, their faces filled with concern. It was a sight he probably never thought he'd see. And there I was, right next to him, making good on my promise.
"What's going on?" Gaara asked, clearly confused.
"Don't be so shocked, man. They all came to save their Kazekage. Everyone's been worried sick about you," I replied, trying to lighten the mood and maybe crack a smile from him.
I stepped back a little, letting Kankuro and Temari get closer to their brother. There was this silent understanding between us all.
"Gaara... how are you feeling?" Temari asked, her voice soft but filled with concern.
Gaara looked around, realization dawning on him—he wasn't alone anymore. When he tried to get up, his body protested, reminding him of the rough time he'd been through. But even in that moment of weakness, you could see him drawing strength from the support around him.
"Take it easy, you're not fully healed yet," Temari cautioned, her words wrapped in sisterly love.
"Thanks, Naruto!" Kankuro said, his gratitude clear.
"Hey, don't give me all the credit. It was Granny Chiyo who really saved the day," I said. "She used the Reanimation Jutsu, sacrificing herself to bring Gaara back."
"Reanimation Jutsu?" Tenten echoed, curiosity piqued.
"Yeah, it's a jutsu that brings someone back to life, but at the cost of your own. Pretty heavy stuff," I explained, keeping it simple. Kankuro just nodded silently.
"No way...!" Tenten gasped.
"Exactly what I thought," Neji murmured, his face serious and thoughtful.
"Guy Sensei?" Rock Lee asked, looking for confirmation. Guy just nodded solemnly.
"Chiyo made a choice, a shinobi's choice. She passed the torch to Gaara and you, Naruto. Her end was nothing short of noble," Kakashi noted, and I nodded in agreement.
Gaara tried to stand up, struggling a bit, but I was there in a flash, offering a hand. We stood together in front of Granny Chiyo, facing the moment head-on.
"Let's take a moment for Granny Chiyo," Gaara suggested, and we all fell silent. I even took off my headband, out of respect.
"Granny Chiyo, your past doesn't define you. What matters is today—you showed us what it means to be a true shinobi. You've earned my respect, big time. And don't worry, I'll keep that promise of yours," I thought to myself, closing my eyes in a silent vow.
[A. N: Thanks for reading, drop Powerstones that will help a lot and drop reviews if you like the story and add to your library