As Chiyo continued pouring her chakra and life force into Gaara's body, color slowly returned to his face, his skin softened, and his body gradually regained warmth.
At that moment, Kiyosuke and Karin looked up.
"So many people."
"Yeah… it must be Sunagakure's shinobi."
They could sense a large group of ninja approaching, and before long, they saw Kankurō and Temari leading a squad of Sunagakure shinobi running toward them.
Meanwhile, Chiyo's breathing grew heavier and more labored.
"Enough," Sasori muttered. "You don't need to sacrifice your life for the sake of someone who's already dead."
"Hah… Sasori, are you worried about your grandma? Heh heh… this old lady has lived long enough. I'll stake this life on Sunagakure's future. Really though, gambling like this should be more up that brat Tsunade's alley."
Even at the very end, Chiyo couldn't resist teasing her old rival.
"Hahaha… then how about one last gamble with your life? What do you think?"
"Surprisingly… it feels pretty good."
She turned her gaze to Kiyosuke.
"Kiyosuke, if you manage to live through all this, maybe you'll be able to carve out a different kind of future."
"Who knows?"
Kiyosuke smiled.
"But what about you? Are you really okay with ending things here?"
"Hahaha… I've lived enough. The dying pave the way for the next generation—that's how it should be. Besides, I believe in you all. You'll create a new future. That's enough for me."
"Sis… you've decided then?" Ebizō asked, his voice low as he stared at his sister.
"This time, I'm not faking it."
With those words, Chiyo sped up her jutsu.
Gaara's muscles twitched faintly, blood began flowing once again through his veins, and before long, the faint sound of a heartbeat and breathing returned. His chest rose and fell gently.
But Chiyo's own breathing grew more ragged, her body burning through its last scraps of life force. Even with Karin and the others lending support, her flame was nothing more than a candle flickering in the wind.
Gaara slowly opened his eyes, his blurry gaze falling first on Chiyo's face, softened with relief, and then on Naruto's tear-filled eyes beside her.
"You're awake! That's… that's great!"
Cheers broke out around them.
Kiyosuke walked forward and carefully helped Chiyo to her feet. He brought her before Sasori. Looking into her grandson's eyes, she smiled gently.
"Sasori… Grandma has one last gift for you."
She placed her hands on the "Mother" and "Father" puppets, forcing the last remnants of her chakra and life into them.
"Grandma Chiyo, what are you doing?" Sasori asked, eyes narrowing.
She didn't answer.
This time, the "Mother" and "Father" puppets moved not because they were controlled by chakra threads, but because they were alive—if only for a fleeting moment.
Their stiff arms reached out, wrapping Sasori in an embrace, then pulled Chiyo close as well.
Even if only for an instant...they would hold their family tightly again.
The warmth of his parents' embrace—after so many years.
It felt… so good.
"Grandma… you always insist on deciding things for me on your own," Sasori whispered, lowering his head.
"Do you like the gift Grandma gave you?"
"…I don't hate it."
"I see… then that's… wonderful."
Her head fell, never to rise again.
Silence. Everyone bowed their heads in mourning.
Sasori felt grief tear through him, yet his body couldn't shed tears. This shell of flesh no longer ate, no longer excreted, no longer wept, no longer ached.
No longer human.
"What… have I even been doing?"
The hollow in his chest opened, firing two chakra threads that latched onto the "Mother" and "Father" once more. Blades sprang from his sleeves, stabbing through his own core.
"You're choosing to end it this way?" Kiyosuke asked quietly, crouching down in front of him.
"Running into you… was my misfortune," Sasori rasped. His eyes dulled as his core fractured. He didn't have much time left.
"Is that so? Then you really were unlucky."
"…Be careful of the Leader. He's strong," Sasori said with what little breath remained.
"I know him. I know all your intel."
"…I see. Then… that's fine…"
The puppet body slumped, head bowing.
Sasori of the Red Sand—had taken his own life.
"Kiyosuke-san, why did he kill himself?" Naruto asked, confusion written all over his face.
"Because he didn't want to keep living. Turning himself into this… he felt he'd lost the right to call himself human. Chiyo-sama's sacrifice, his parents… it was too much."
The "Mother" and "Father" puppets still held him tightly, even as the blades in their hands pierced his chest.
Sasori had realized the path he chose was wrong. Becoming a puppet was never what he truly wanted.
This twisted existence… wasn't the dream he'd once had.
So he chose to end it himself.
Kiyosuke took out a cloth, wiping the blood seeping from Sasori's core. He folded it neatly and tucked it away.
"Kankurō, recover Sasori's puppet body. The rest, I burned. Only these three are left."
"…Yes."
Kankurō walked forward silently, offering a wordless prayer before beginning to retrieve Sasori and his "parents."
Ebizō gently lifted his sister's frail body, intent on bringing her home.
Gaara was safe. Sunagakure had lost its Tailed Beast, but at least its Kazekage had returned. For now, that was enough.
The Konoha squad remained in Sunagakure to rest and recover.
...
Once Gaara was able to walk again, he came to personally thank Kiyosuke and the others. Together with Pakura, he escorted them to the village gates.
"Take care on the road," Pakura said softly.
"Don't worry. I won't get lost," Kiyosuke replied.
"Mm."
An awkward silence fell between them before both broke into faint smiles.
"She… is she doing well?" Pakura asked at last.
"She's doing very well."
"…I see. Then I wish you happiness."
"Thank you."
They embraced briefly, a quiet farewell under the watchful eyes of everyone around them.
Kiyosuke cleared his throat.
"Alright, let's get moving. Naruto, we're heading to Orochimaru's place next—to find Sasuke."
The instant he heard Sasuke's name, Naruto lit up.
"I know! Let's go, let's go, let's go!"
After bidding Gaara farewell, Naruto sprinted ahead at full speed. Kiba chased after him with Akamaru at his side.
The two of them started racing like kids again.
Shino and the others followed close behind.
Kiyosuke and Kakashi trailed at the rear, the two older men watching the group.
"These kids… they run so fast. Don't they care about us old guys at all?" Kiyosuke grumbled.
"When did you get so lazy?" Kakashi asked.
"I've always been like this," Kiyosuke snorted. "Once we get back, we'll rest a bit. After that, we still have to bring Sasuke back—and help Naruto get control over the Nine-Tails. We're going to be busy."
"Yeah," Kakashi nodded. "Very busy."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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