Chapter 36: The Shinobi Who Moves In The Shadows

In the late afternoon, Sakura's eyes fluttered open to find herself alone in bed. The familiarity of her surroundings brought a surge of relief, prompting her to spring out of bed with renewed energy. Racing through the hallways, she arrived at the dining room to find Temari seated at the table, savoring a cup of tea. Meeting Sakura's gaze, Temari greeted her with concern, "You're up. How was your rest?"

Ignoring the question, Sakura inquired urgently, "Where are the boys?"

"They're at the office, but you're not ready to go anywhere," Temari replied firmly.

Determined, Sakura moved towards the door, her hand hovering over the doorknob as she insisted, "I need to talk to them."

Temari's voice cut through the air to halt her, carrying a weighty revelation, "Kankuro's in love with you."

Sakura's fingers relaxed their grip on the doorknob as she absorbed Temari's words, her response barely above a whisper, "I know, I love him too, but I can't choose between my best friend and boyfriend. I'm not ready." 

With a calm demeanor, Temari drew closer to Sakura, her tone gentle yet firm, "I understand your apprehension. I may not have realized it, but you heard our argument during the chaos with Shukaku. I won't influence your decision. I only urge you to choose someone who aligns with your heart."

"I love Gaara, and it would break his heart if I chose Kankuro, so I'm going to find Gaara," Sakura affirmed.

"Understood," Temari acknowledged. "Stay safe."

Her heart raced as she hurried through the streets to the Kazekage office, her chest tight with rage that clouded her thoughts. Sakura stormed through the front doors and climbed the spiral staircase, ignoring the stares and whispers of those she passed.

As she walked by the meeting room, she noticed a silhouette standing by the window. Squinting through the door's glass, she saw it was Kankuro, deep in thought. She could imagine how heartbroken he must be. She initially fell in love with Gaara because they understood each other's feelings, but now everything was complicated.

Sakura whispered, "I'm sorry, Kankuro," and continued toward Gaara's office. As she passed young Shinobi engrossed in their daily missions, memories of her old friends surfaced. In the Land of Wind, Chunin were no longer grouped into three groups but instead assigned various roles such as Anbu or communication duties. The possibilities were endless, and the elders had assigned her to work with Gaara for political reasons. However, for her, it was not political at all. She cherished working side by side with her boyfriend, who also happened to be the Kazekage.

Sakura reached the office door and turned the knob gently, her heart racing as she tried to figure out what to say.

Gaara heard the door creak open and said, "You don't have to loiter at the door, Sakura. Come inside."

She opened the door and saw Gaara at his desk, diligently working on a report. "How did you know it was me?" she asked.

Without looking up, Gaara replied, "I can sense your chakra."

Sakura blushed and entered the room, slowly approaching his desk. She struggled to find the right words, knowing she had overheard the conversation in the desert. Instead, she asked, "Where's my father?"

Gaara dropped his pen and stood up, facing her like an ordinary Shinobi. "He's in the underground prison where we keep all the criminal Shinobi. Is that really what you came here to ask, knowing you already knew the answer? Why are you out of bed, anyway?"

Sakura stumbled over her words. "No, I'm fine, I swear. Shukaku took control of me out of nowhere. He was upset about the upcoming war he said would destroy us, and it was something he claimed was too late to avoid."

"I am not worried about the future right now. Let me walk you home so you can rest. You've been through a lot this past week, and I want to take care of you," Gaara replied. He reached for her hand, but Sakura pulled away and turned her head so he couldn't see her face.

"I overheard you say you would seal me away for the village's sake, so that no one else could have me but you. I heard everything, Gaara," she whimpered.

They stood in silence in the middle of Gaara's office. Gaara reached out again and gently intertwined their fingers. "I am so sorry you had to hear that. If that day ever came, I would never allow you to die alone. I would die by your side. When Shukaku lost control, I felt almost powerless, so I took the fool's way out. But we can work on a real solution to the flare-ups."

Sakura quietly nodded and leaned her head on his chest. She loved him with all her heart and wanted to trust him. Standing there, listening to his heartbeat, gave her the assurance she needed to feel safe around him.

Gaara gently lifted her chin, planting a reassuring kiss on her lips before affectionately stroking her hair and offering a comforting smile. Their intimate moment was abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door. Swiftly, they broke apart, each mindful of keeping their personal and professional lives distinct.

Gaara called out, "Yes, come in. What is it?"

Out of breath, Jonin Shinobi reported, "Kenjiro, the prisoner we recently brought in, has died."

Sakura gasped, "What? How is that possible?"

"That's the problem; we're not exactly sure," the Jonin replied.

"Lead the way," Gaara instructed.

The Jonin bowed to the Kazekage and his advisor before guiding them out of the Kazekage's office. Outside, everything seemed normal at a glance. There was no apparent damage, and the general public continued about their business. However, a group of gathered Jonin and Chunin stood near the underground prison gates, curious about the unfolding events.

Sakura sighed and commanded, "Clear a path. The Kazekage is coming through."

Quickly, everyone shuffled aside to allow passage for the Kazekage. The steel gates of the prison opened with a loud screech. Gaara and Sakura entered together, passing rows of prisoners who jeered and mocked them. One particularly vile prisoner in the darkest corner of his cell whistled, licked his lips, and made a crude remark.

Ignoring the taunts, Gaara and Sakura proceeded to the lower levels, where they found Kankuro at the scene with other Jonin, waiting for the Kazekage's arrival.

Sakura crossed her arms and glared, demanding, "What are you doing here?"

Kankuro frowned and replied, "I didn't do this, if that's what you're asking. It might be related to a recent case we've been tracking."

"What makes you think my father had something to do with a terrorist?" Sakura pressed.

"When he left the village, he teamed up with a Shinobi we haven't located yet. I came here looking for answers, but I found him dead. We need a description of the Shinobi I'm searching for because he moves swiftly," Kankuro explained.

Gaara nodded in understanding. "The Shinobi who abducted those children in broad daylight without anyone noticing."

Sakura sighed, connecting the dots. "Okay, now I see the connection. Let's go see his body."

But as Sakura moved to walk past him, Kankuro blocked her path in the hallway. He refused when she tried to go around him, saying, "It's probably best if you don't see it."

"Are you serious?" Sakura challenged.

Kankuro gently took her wrist and whispered, "I don't want you to witness this. It's something you won't easily forget."

Gaara scoffed as he strode past them, heading down the hallway. He proceeded directly to the left prison cell, where her father's name was inscribed. Upon seeing the sight inside, his eyes widened in shock. It was far worse than he had anticipated.

"Don't bring her down here," Gaara instructed firmly.

"No, shit," Kankuro argued. 

"Please, don't come over here," Gaara said calmly, "his face was smashed into the wall."

Sakura crossed her arms, fixed her glare on Kankuro, and asked pointedly, "Did you do that?"

"I'm flattered, but I doubt anyone would have the strength to inflict that much damage to a human skull," Kankuro replied.

With a slight smirk, Sakura quipped, "Do you think a puppet did it?"

"See, I like the way you think. Want to have lunch at the Soba place today?" Kankuro replied in an attempt to be emotionally closer to her. 

Sakura quickly hushed him and whispered, "Hey, not in front of Gaara."

Kankuro shrugged nonchalantly. "It was worth a try. I just wanted to spend some time together and catch up like old times."

"That's all?" Sakura asked, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Yes, I promise," Kankuro replied with a smile, rubbing the back of his head to hide his blush.

Gaara walked past them, his expression stern. He was clearly displeased with their conversation and wished Sakura would cease her interaction with his older brother, but he restrained himself from saying more. Instead, he directed his attention to the matter at hand.

"We need to handle this with utmost discretion. No one outside this room should know what happened here," Gaara instructed firmly.

Kankuro's smile faded as he nodded in understanding, recognizing the gravity of the situation and the need for secrecy in their investigation into the brutal act that had occurred.

A Jonin approached them and inquired, "What should we do with the body?"

Kankuro sighed heavily and responded, "Take him discreetly to the morgue for identification. He might be trying to deceive us as a ploy to escape."

"I'll assign our most trusted Shinobi to handle it. You can count on us to handle his remains with care," the Jonin assured.

A makeshift stretcher was brought in, draped with neatly folded white sheets. Sakura observed silently as the Shinobi entered the cell with a fresh sheet. They carefully covered the body, ensuring all limbs remained hidden beneath the layers. The blood from his head was faintly visible through the sheets as it seeped onto the surface. Layer by layer, they shrouded him with additional sheets before gently maneuvering the stretcher past Sakura, who stood solemnly in the hallway.

Exiting through another route, the Jonin ensured the body's movement remained discreet, shielding it from public view.

Seizing the moment, Kankuro turned to Sakura and asked, "So, about that Soba place. What time should we go?"

Before she could respond, Gaara grabbed her arm and pulled her away from Kankuro. "Would you mind meeting us outside? We have some private matters to discuss."

"I'll see you outside, then," Sakura replied. She left the prison, the boys' argument echoing behind her, the sound of her footsteps on the stone masking their words. She felt a pang of disappointment at their constant discord.

As she finally emerged from the dim caverns into the sunlight, Chunin and Jonin surrounded her, bombarding her with questions.

"What's going on down there, Sakura?" a Chunin asked.

"Did one of the prisoners die?" another inquired.

"I heard they brought your father down there. Is it true? Did they finally catch him?" a Jonin pressed.

She pushed through the crowd and said, "I'm sorry, but I can't discuss it. I hope you understand."

Thankfully, they didn't follow her as she made her way to the side streets, where she collapsed from exhaustion. Alone at last, she allowed herself a moment to recover emotionally.

"Hey, Sakura, what's going on down there?" a Chunin asked.

"Did one of the prisoners die?" another chimed in.

"I heard they brought your father down there. Is it true? Did they finally catch him?" a Jonin pressed.

Pushing through the crowd, Sakura managed to catch her breath. "I'm sorry, but I can't discuss it. I hope you understand," she said, her voice strained.

Thankfully, they didn't follow her as she made her way to the side streets, where she collapsed from exhaustion. Alone at last, she allowed herself a moment to recover emotionally, her body and mind finally finding a brief respite.

Sakura leaned against the wall and slid down the dirt path, closing her eyes to take a deep breath. When she opened them, she noticed a shadow creeping towards her from the corner of her eye. Quickly, she lifted herself off the ground and raised her sand shield for protection. 

"What the fuck is this?" Sakura cried out. 

The black shadow climbed the wall of sand, extending like octopus tentacles to trap her inside the darkness.