Chapter 38: An Unexpected Visitor

On the first floor of the Kazekage's office building, Sakura stood in the records and scrolls room, guarded by two Jonins. She had spread multiple files across a round dark oak table, each detailing possible rogue Shinobi who could have committed such an act, but none seemed to fit. These were the worst individuals in the village, and she spent hours poring over each one, desperately trying to make a connection.

Stacks of old styrofoam noodle cups, wooden chopsticks, and plastic bags filled with empty bento containers piled up by the door as Sakura focused on her work. She whispered to herself, "Where are you, monster?"

Gaara entered the room, knocking over a pile of the trash Sakura had collected. He approached the table and said, "Sakura, you've been working within these four walls too long. I can't allow you to continue this research project without any breaks."

Sakura, staring at her work on the table, moved some files around and replied, "I know, I apologize. I've been working here for days, and I think I might know who did it, but we've had them in custody for years."

Gaara crossed his arms, his expression stern. "I haven't seen you at the house since May died last week. Your dedication to this case is admirable, but it's taking an emotional toll on you."

Sakura quickly raised her head, her eyes wide. "I know, but I can't rest. I see her in my nightmares. Usually, by now, I would have found a trail to follow, but I don't have anything."

Gaara pushed the rogue Shinobi files away and said, "What you seek is not here in these folders. Take a break right now. That's an order."

"Hey, you ruined all my hard work," Sakura protested.

Gaara walked towards the door. "I need you to visit the hospital to collect statements from a recent attack in the village that matches the description of May's murderer."

Without hesitation, Sakura followed him out of the records room and asked, "Where did the attack happen?"

"Do you recall the market where you bought your first hairpiece?" Gaara asked.

Sakura's eyes widened. "Yeah, that was a long time ago."

"Two Shinobi walked through the market and exploded. They killed a dozen people," Gaara admitted.

Sakura gasped, cupping her mouth with her hand. "How many were injured?"

Gaara glanced out the window. "I don't know the exact number. Witnesses report over twenty injured, but those in shock from the blast might not be accurate. I have Jonin there now."

Sakura recalled a Shinobi known for explosive chakra energy. She frowned. "Don't these attacks remind you of someone we know?"

Gaara nodded silently. "Now is not the time to panic. Without accurate information, we can't find a solution."

"Soon, we will have to send out a search team for Kankuro and the other Jonin. We haven't heard back from them in over a week. Also, we might be dealing with Deidara. I was there; we never found a single piece of his body," Sakura whimpered.

Gaara kissed her forehead and embraced her tightly, his body trembling slightly. "I will summon the council for an emergency meeting to discuss this further. For now, we should only assume something if we know the facts. Report back to me right away after speaking with the victims."

Feeling the fear in his fragile frame, Sakura held him tighter, her eyes watering as she sensed the depth of his concern. "Okay, I will, but you must stay inside the building—no more chasing after clay birds in the sky without me knowing."

Gaara nodded and returned to his office to summon the emergency meeting. Sakura watched him until he was safely upstairs before leaving.

Her fear turned to bubbling rage as she headed to the village hospital. She whispered, "If that lump of clay is still alive, he will regret the day he escaped us." Her face turned bright red, and she clenched her jaw so tightly that it gave her a headache.

Reaching the front doors, Shinobi pushed her aside, making way for incoming trauma victims. Some survivors were still being pulled from the rubble.

Sakura watched the Shinobi carry in the stretchers, checking each victim's face to ensure it wasn't anyone she knew personally.

After the stampede of Shinobi passed, Sakura followed them into the emergency triage bay. She walked past grieving families waiting in the hall, their loved ones fighting for their lives inside the hospital beds. She spotted a male Chunin leaning against the wall, staring blankly into the distance. His torso was covered in blood that didn't appear to be his. Seeing an opportunity to gather information, Sakura approached him.

"Hey, you. My name is Sakura, and I'm the Kazekage's Advisor. He asked me to find out what happened out there. Do you know anything?"

"My sister forced me to come with her to buy groceries tonight," the Chunin replied, his voice hollow. "She picked up a massive peach and squealed with joy. The next moment, she was gone. I only found her head."

Sakura's brow furrowed, struggling to find the right words. "I'm sorry for your loss. If you remember anything else, please inform me."

The boy didn't respond, continuing to stare at the crowds of victims and their families. Sakura couldn't blame him. She left to find someone else who might have more information.

A kind young medic, new to the triage bay and wearing her dirty blonde hair in pigtails, called out to Sakura. "Hello, Lady Sakura. Is it? I have something to report."

Sakura turned to face the short girl and replied, "I am only here to collect information about the bombs that exploded in the village today."

"Yes, about that," the young medic whispered. "I have a man in one of my triage stations who was struck by the debris of the blast, and he will soon be transferred upstairs."

"And?" Sakura questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"He claimed he was a Shinobi from the civilian guard unit," the medic whispered.

Sakura frowned, her eyes widening. "There's no such department in our village. Something's wrong, and I don't like it. Thank you for the information."

"Yeah, hope it helped," the medic Shinobi said. "He's in room three."

Sakura quickly made her way to the third triage room nearby. Panting, she held the door frame and noticed the empty bed. The wrinkled white sheets lay halfway off the bed frame. She glanced around the hospital room, but the mysterious figure was nowhere to be seen.

"Shit, where did he go?" she muttered.

Suddenly, a young woman screamed behind her. Sakura turned, feeling a sudden sense of nausea and fear. Her heart raced as she focused on the young woman sitting in the waiting room, clinging to a baby stroller with a newborn, crying loudly.

Sakura had to push through the crowd to reach the woman and her baby. As the stroller came into view, she saw the newborn flailing its arms, clinging to a small explosive device. The mother was desperately straining to remove it from the baby's hand.

In seconds, Sakura had to devise a plan to save everyone inside, even if it meant sacrificing herself. Her expression hardened, and she clenched her teeth.

"One second could change the future," Sakura whispered.

In one swift movement, she manipulated the sand to box herself in with the explosive device. The walls of sand were thickened with wet sand and dirt from outside, solidifying quickly to form a sturdy barrier. With a wave of her arms, she forcefully moved more sand forward, prying the device from the newborn's firm grasp and hurling it out the window.

"Everyone, run!" Sakura screamed.

The crowd of civilians scrambled from their seats, fleeing in a panicked rush toward the exit. Sakura quickly formed a massive wall of thick sand between herself and the bomb, creating a barrier for the evacuating people. Those bedridden had to stay behind, so Sakura had to do everything she could to keep everyone safe.

With another swift motion, Sakura flung her arms forward, sending the bomb higher into the sky to avoid the large building. She whispered, "This might be my last fight, Gaara. I don't know how far the explosion will reach, but I can't take that risk. I alone cannot win. I'm sorry, my love."

Shukaku's voice cried out from within her, "You are not alone..." 

Tears ran down Sakura's face as she whispered, "What?"

A figure sped past her so quickly she could only see a shadow. He stood in front of her, unfurling a massive scroll. She recognized the familiar rugged black jumpsuit and scrolls tied to his back.

"Stay back!" the voice yelled.

"Kankuro," Sakura whispered.

"Sorry, I'm late. I'll explain everything later, but now is not the time," Kankuro said. He cut his thumb on his canine tooth and smeared the blood over the scroll. A thick mist appeared, summoning the massive Salamander, immediately entering defensive mode. Kankuro then pulled out two more scrolls, summoning his other puppets to provide support in the sky. His primary focus, however, was keeping Sakura alive.

The Salamander puppet burrowed through the hospital flooring and insulation, eventually reaching the dirt below. It dug rapidly, creating a hole large enough to fit them inside.

"Come on, hurry! We only have moments," Kankuro shouted.

Gaara arrived on a sand platform, swooping through the hospital's double doors. He grabbed Sakura and pulled her into the hole. Kankuro quickly followed, sealing the hole with the Salamander attached to the top.

A blinding white flash erupted above them. Gaara instinctively shielded Sakura in his arms, protecting her from the falling dirt and debris. The flash was followed by a loud blast that burst their eardrums and knocked them to the ground. Sakura struck the back of her head and fell unconscious.

Everything turned black, and she thought she was dead until she heard the faint beeping of monitors and the muffled voices of people around her. She couldn't make out the words, and her body refused to move, filling her with frustration. Suddenly, everything went silent.

"Am I dead?" Sakura wondered.

She opened her eyes and gagged from the sudden rush of oxygen. Her heart raced as she gasped for air, feeling the outdoor breeze on her skin. Around her, hundreds of people who had been inside the hospital were now lying in triage beds scattered across the lawn of what was once a building.

Beside her bed, Gaara sat, watching over her despite his head injuries from the explosion. Both of their faces were covered in dirt. His eyes widened as he noticed her awake and yelled, "Hey, she's awake!"

Sakura groaned, "Gaara, what happened?"

"I thought I lost you, but thankfully, we're safe now. The debris hit us, and we both fell and hit our heads," Gaara explained.

"How bad is it?" Sakura asked, wincing as her headache intensified. She reached to the back of her head to feel the damage, but her fingers only touched gauze and bandages.

Gaara gently took her right hand and placed it in her lap. "We didn't sustain any fatal injuries. That's what matters now," he said reassuringly.

Kankuro entered her triage station, his face covered in filth, minor cuts, and bandages. The debris from the accident had smeared his makeup. With a big smile, he said, "Hey, you two. Are you feeling any better?"

Sakura glared at him and demanded, "Where have you been this past week? You didn't report back like you said you would."

Kankuro rubbed the back of his head and replied, "I'm sorry I worried you, but we were in a difficult position."

"I spent hours trying to understand why May was murdered in the records room. I couldn't leave until I found answers, but Gaara told me they weren't there. Do you know who's behind it?" Sakura asked, her voice trembling.

"When Gaara first became Kazekage, not everyone was happy. Some admired Deidara and formed an alliance in our village, exploiting Gaara's weaknesses. They started committing small crimes from a secret lair in the desert. Then, Sasori and Deidara attacked the village and succeeded. They discovered Gaara's vulnerability to explosions and began testing them throughout town. They are planning something big," Kankuro explained, his expression serious.

"The black hole brought you to their hideout in the desert?" Sakura asked.

Kankuro nodded. "The invitation turned out to be an ambush, but luckily, we saw right through their plans. They expected Gaara, but we managed to burn their hideout to the ground."

Sakura sighed and crossed her arms. "I assume that's not the end of the story."

"No, it's not. We chased after the few who escaped, but we didn't realize there were more hiding in the village. They said we'd never find their leader, and they might be right," Kankuro admitted, rubbing his face in frustration. "The leader hides in the shadows and never reveals himself. He's here, watching his handiwork, and my job feels never-ending."

"These explosives are appearing out of nowhere. I can't even do my job without one showing up," Sakura said, exasperated.

Gaara gently stroked her hair to reassure her. "Don't worry about the interviews. I'll have some other Jonin handle that while you recover."

Suddenly, a middle-aged man approached them, catching Sakura and the sand siblings' attention. His hair was short and pale blue, and one of his ocean-blue eyes was missing due to a large scar that marred his face as if a bear had attacked him.

"You must be the beautiful princess of Sunagakure I've heard so much about," the man said.

With a calm demeanor, Gaara stood beside his brother and asked, "And who might you be? How did you get past our security?"

The man raised his hands defensively and chuckled nervously. "There's no need for that reaction. I assure you, I'm a friend of the village."

"I am the Kazekage of Sunagakure, and I don't recall ever seeing your face around here," Gaara replied.

Kankuro stepped between them, spreading his arms to prevent a confrontation. "This is Gin, a consultant from the Land of Rivers. They've recently been dealing with attacks from a dark shadow lurking around their village. He has come to cross-reference our incidents with their witness statements. We met him outside the village during our mission. Gin, this is my younger brother Gaara and his Advisor, Sakura."

Gin smiled and waved to the couple. "I look forward to working with you both," he said.

"Why wasn't I informed of this?" Gaara asked. "Allowing someone like him into our village requires intensive background checks and at least a letter from his Kage."

"Yes, but given the circumstances of the recent attacks, he came here with me," Kankuro explained.

Gaara clenched his fist and retorted, "You can't break rules just because you're my older brother."

Sakura sat up from her makeshift cot and gently held Gaara's fist to calm him down. She nodded at him, signaling reassurance. "Hey, it's okay. Kankuro was trying to warn us about the attacks while bringing Gin along. It makes sense he didn't have time to consult with us first."

"Fine," Gaara replied, sitting back beside Sakura's bedside. She was unwilling to leave her side with such a suspicious man in the village.

Kankuro sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "I assure you, I'll be keeping an eye on him during his short visit. Gin and I will be at the office to discuss this case further."

As the two walked toward the Kazekage office, leaving them to handle the hospital situation, Sakura couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about Gin. She frowned, turned to Gaara, and whispered, "Something's not right here."

"Did he mention anything to you when he arrived at the hospital?" Gaara asked.

"No," Sakura whispered. "Normally, it would take at least a week to process that kind of paperwork to ensure the village's safety. So, where did Kankuro find this guy?"

"It's not like he brings in strays randomly. You should be on bed rest, but that could be the perfect cover for you to investigate this Gin," Gaara said.

"I don't need a protection detail. Don't worry about me," Sakura replied, gently squeezing Gaara's cheek to lighten the mood, but it wasn't successful.

Gaara moved her hand away and rubbed his eyes with his palms. The overwhelming stress of his job was evident in the bags under his eyes, exacerbated by the absence of Shukaku, which once provided him with the much-needed chakra strength to fight powerful enemies and work long nights. He whispered, "I believe you might be a target, so I won't take any chances. I almost lost you today."

Sakura kissed him on the forehead and replied, "I know. It'll be okay. We'll work it out together like we always have."

Gaara nodded, knowing he had a lot of work ahead. His older brother seemed to be under someone's influence, but they had no idea who this mysterious character was. They needed each other now more than ever.