Chapter 33: Painful Road Ahead

With her Shukaku sand hand cloaked in blue curse marks hand, she pressed him against the wall, initiating a suffocating grip. Sakura leaned in, her lips near Kenjiro's ear, whispering a silent melody that lulled him into a peaceful slumber. As he slowly closed his eyes and breathed gently, Sakura released his body, leaving him in a serene state. Walking down the hallway deliberately, she left a trail of sand in her wake. Groaning and roaring, she struggled to escape the emotional pain that gripped her.

Kankuro raised his arms, manipulating the blue chakra strings connected to his Black Ant Puppet. The puppet's stomach opened, releasing a torrent of blue chakra strings that swiftly entangled Kenjiro, trapping him within the puppet's chest. With a strained tone, Kankuro declared, "It's over, Kenjiro. I hope I never have to lay eyes on your face again."

Gaara turned to his siblings, a worried frown etched across his face, and inquired, "I'm at a loss on how to help her. What should I do?" 

Kankuro shifted his gaze towards Sakura, pondering the question. The truth was, he didn't have a clear answer. Each Jinchuriki faced unique challenges, and Sakura's recent trauma triggered a chakra manifestation unlike anything they had witnessed in years. Temari approached Gaara, letting out a sigh. She advised: "If your love for each other is genuine, you'll find the right words. Go to her, Gaara."

Gaara traced the sandy path that led directly to her, the enormous Shukaku's body shifting and dragging along. Passing her, he turned back and knelt in front of Sakura. His hands, tender and gentle, touched her peachy skin where the sand flaked away. Sakura's pupils resembled frying pans; she seemed absent, overwhelmed by the unbearable pain.

With a sorrowful expression, Gaara whispered, "I should have never left you alone. I'm so sorry."

Sakura's body continued to move forward as if she were in a trance controlled by Shukaku. Her lack of response indicated that Shukaku had taken over her body, her heart pounding visibly in her chest.

Kankuro cried out, "Why won't she answer you?" 

Kankuro's eyes widened in concern as he hurried over to assist his younger brother. Temari remained frozen in place, her childhood trauma resurfacing as she wondered what had happened to her beloved friend to turn her into the monster they had all feared.

"How can we help her?" Kankuro asked.

Ignoring his brother's distress, Gaara knelt in front of Sakura and calmly asked, "Why are you possessing her body like this? Is she resisting?"

Shukaku's voice sounded weak as he replied, "No, she isn't resisting. I feel her pain, and it overwhelms me. It's like the night you were betrayed by your own family. She refuses to emerge."

Gaara frowned and closed his eyes, delving into the depths of his inner turmoil. When he heard the slow, rhythmic sound of raindrops falling, he slowly opened his eyes again.

In Shukaku's dimension, Gaara discovered the unchained beast nowhere in sight. His eyes scanned the darkness until he spotted Sakura in the distance, curled up on the floor, naked and in tears, struggling to gather her thoughts.

Kneeling beside her, Gaara gently moved her hair away from her face, cupping it behind her ear as he softly inquired, "What's troubling you?"

"He drugged and raped me," Sakura whimpered. "What if I become pregnant in the following week? I don't want to." 

"Stop, don't think like that. We will handle it if the time comes. Did he say anything to you?" 

Sakura nodded and wiped away her tears. She sat up, using her long hair as a shield, and uttered, "He told me nothing I didn't already know."

Gaara said firmly, "Don't play the victim; you're a Shinobi, a survivor. Remember that." He extended his hand, urging her to rise. "Come on, let's go home."

Sakura smiled and nodded at the love of her life. They opened their eyes, and the sand that covered Sakura's body gracefully descended to the solid wooden floor. As Sakura opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by her family.

Sakura stirred awake, cradled in Gaara's protective embrace, a soft white robe draped over her body. The intensity of the light momentarily blinded her, but she adjusted swiftly. Tenderly stroking his cheek, she murmured, "I'm sorry if I scared you. I guess I ruined our vacation."

"That's not important right now. What matters is that you're safe," Gaara replied with a concerned gaze. "It's best if we wait until tomorrow to leave. I need you to be okay."

"That sounds like a good plan," Temari said, kneeling beside them. "We can't have you suffering in the middle of the desert, so let's make sure you're alright."

"Alright, please take me to our room," Sakura requested softly.

With gentle care, Gaara lifted her into his arms and carried her to the family room. They settled her down on the Tatami mat and remained by her side until medical assistance arrived.

The Okami entered the room clad in pink robes and knelt beside the young family. "My sincerest apologies, Lady Sakura. We won't charge you for the additional night of service."

Sakura turned her head to address the Okami, her tone gentle yet firm. "You've suffered a loss too. There's no need to cater to us. Take time to mourn with the others. She was precious and deserves a proper farewell."

The Okami bowed in gratitude before departing, leaving the family in solitude. As she retreated down the hallway to grieve with her fellow attendants, news of the girl's tragic fate in the garden emerged.

Taking advantage of the moment, Temari voiced her concerns to the family, settling beside Sakura's head. "When were you planning to tell us about Shukaku? What's happening?"

Before Sakura could respond, Gaara stepped in. "She confided in us after our arrival, and we agreed to keep it discreet. But now, it's no longer a secret."

Rubbing the back of his head, Kankuro chimed in, "We intended to inform you, but we were waiting for the right time."

"How?" Temari pressed for clarification.

Gaara rose to his feet, gesturing for Temari to follow. "Come with me; we'll talk. We still need to address the rumors and deal with our unexpected guest."

"Alright," Temari agreed, joining him in the hallway. He left Kankuro and Sakura to their quiet reflections in the family room.

Kankuro tenderly draped a blanket over Sakura's form on the Tatami mat before leaving the room. Moments later, he returned with a soft pillow, carefully tucking it beneath her head to ensure her comfort.

"I'm okay, Kankuro, I promise," Sakura whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

"You did something incredible back there. That explosion led us right to you. Smart thinking," Kankuro praised, his admiration evident in his voice.

Blushing at the unexpected compliment, Sakura admitted, "It wasn't exactly a planned strategy. I just... lost control."

Kankuro gently silenced her, his touch comforting. "Don't dwell on that now. The doctor will be here soon. We arranged it in advance, anticipating something like this might happen."

Sakura's gaze lingered on the door, anticipating Gaara's return, yet he had not yet crossed the threshold. She hesitated to confront Kankuro with her tumultuous emotions while he grappled with his sense of guilt.

Sitting beside her, Kankuro's voice was soft as he broached the subject: "What transpired back there? If you're not ready to discuss it, I understand. But I believe we must piece together the events, both for our understanding and to present a cohesive narrative to the council."

Sakura took a deep breath and replied, "I'm not sure you're ready to hear that. Besides, I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Kankuro nodded, respecting her decision to remain silent about her ordeal. He glanced at the door and noticed Gaara and Temari entering the family room. Keeping his head down, he avoided making eye contact with them.

Gaara and Temari glanced at the wall behind Kankuro, their expressions revealing their concern at seeing the damaged wall. They were about to ask what happened but may have already guessed the answer.

Temari frowned and remarked, "You need to learn to control your anger, Kankuro."

Gaara stepped in to defend him, saying, "He showed restraint with Kenjiro, so I believe he is doing his best under the circumstances."

"Fine," Temari sighed, relenting, "Let's go, Kankuro. The doctor has come to evaluate her. Let's give them some privacy."

Without a word, Kankuro followed his siblings out of the room. As they passed a kind female doctor in a white coat, she brought in a heavy bag of supplies and sat beside Sakura. Speaking softly, she asked, "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready," Sakura responded quietly.

The room fell into a hushed silence as the doctor prepared for her examination. The siblings stood on the other side of the room, silently waiting for her to finish. None of them exchanged words, understanding the gravity of the situation and the need for privacy. Soon, they would have to return to the village and ensure that justice was served for the harm inflicted by the criminal upon them and those who cared for them.