Chapter 39: 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, glancing around before asking, "I want you to be truthful with me. How long have you been here?"

Still absorbed in her work, Sakura moved some files around and replied, "I don't know. I've been here for a few days now, and I think I might know who did it, but we've had them in custody for years."

Gaara approached her with a stern look, crossing his arms. "Temari told me she hasn't seen you at the house since Kankuro left," he said.

"The mission comes first, and we haven't heard from Kankuro or the other Jonin for days. What if something happened to them?" Sakura said, her voice tinged with worry.

"Sometimes time in the records room vanishes like you've been caught in a Genjutsu, but the truth is you've been here for over a week," Gaara stated.

Sakura quickly raised her head, her eyes wide. "That can't be possible. 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."

"And do what?" Sakura argued. "You want me to sit on my hands and wait for Kankuro to die?"

Gaara walked towards the door. "No, I need you to visit the hospital to collect statements from a recent attack in the village that matched the description of May's murderer."

Without hesitation, Sakura followed him outside the records room. "Where did the attack happen?" she asked.

"Do you remember 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 that market and detonated themselves. They killed a dozen people inside," Gaara revealed.

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

Gaara looked out the window and replied, "I don't have 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 and said, "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 correct solution."

"What about Kankuro? He's still out there, and so might be Deidara. I was there; we never found a single piece of his body," Sakura said, her voice trembling.

Gaara ignored her concerns and started up the stairs. "Focus on your job. He will come back when his mission is over."

Sakura scoffed but knew she couldn't disobey an order from her Kazekage. She stormed out of the office building, heading toward the village hospital. Her face was bright red, and she clenched her jaw so tight it gave her a headache.

As she reached the front doors, Shinobi pushed her aside to make way for incoming trauma victims. Some survivors were still being pulled from the rubble.

Sakura watched the Shinobi carry the stretchers inside, checking each victim's face to ensure it wasn't Kankuro. Not knowing where he was during such a crucial time for the village troubled her deeply.

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 wouldn't say I 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.

Everyone in the triage station suddenly fell silent and still, their eyes widening at the sight of the innocent newborn holding a fragile explosive. 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.

She pulled a sizable scroll from her hip and threw it before her. Before it hit the ground, she cut her thumb on her canine tooth and spread her blood across the scroll. Instantly, her tall, slender puppet emerged from the thin paper, ready for action. With precise movements, Sakura manipulated the puppet with her blue chakra strings, directing it to remove the bomb from the child's hand aggressively.

"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, providing 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 a swift motion, Sakura flung her arms forward, sending the puppet crashing through the window and rising into the sky. She whispered, "This will be our last fight, my friend. I don't know how far the explosion will reach, but I can't take that risk. I alone cannot win. I'm sorry, everyone."

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, digging rapidly into the dirt below until it created a hole large enough to fit them all.

"Come on, hurry! We only have moments," Kankuro shouted, grabbing Sakura's wrist and pulling her into the hole with him.

The Salamander positioned itself at the roof of the hole, shielding them with its body.

A blinding white flash erupted above, and Kankuro quickly pulled Sakura into 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. Sakura thought she might be dead until she started hearing the faint sounds of monitors beeping and distant voices. She couldn't make out any words, and she had no control over her body. The frustration of being unable to move consumed her, but soon, even the faint sounds faded into silence.

"Am I dead?" Sakura wondered aloud.

Suddenly, Sakura's eyes snapped open, and she gagged, her lungs desperate for the oxygen that had been deprived from her brain. Her heart raced as she gasped for air, feeling the cool outdoor breeze on her skin. Hundreds of people around her were sprawled on triage beds across the lawn where the hospital once stood.

Kankuro, sitting beside her, watched as she took her first voluntary breath since the explosion. His head and neck were wrapped in bandages, his makeup smeared with a thick layer of dirt. Both of them were covered in bruises and cuts from the debris, but they were alive.

Kankuro grabbed her hand and shouted, "Hey, she's awake!"

"Kankuro, what happened?" Sakura asked, her head throbbing from the impact.

"When the debris fell on top of us, you hit your head hard," Kankuro explained.

Sakura reached the back of her head, feeling the gauze and bandages. "How bad is it?" she whimpered.

Kankuro sighed in relief. "The doctor said the injuries aren't fatal, but you must take it easy for a while."

"Where have you been all this time?" Sakura asked, wincing as the pain in her head intensified.

Kankuro rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry I worried you. We were in a tough spot."

"I spent hours searching for answers in the records room about May's murder," Sakura said. "Leaving wasn't an option until I found something, but Gaara told me the answers weren't there. Do you know who did it?" she whimpered.

"When Gaara first became Kazekage, not everyone was happy about it. Some admired Deidara and allied within our village, knowing Gaara's weaknesses. They began committing small crimes from a secret lair in the desert. Eventually, Sasori and Deidara attacked the village and succeeded. They learned that explosions were Gaara's weak point and started testing them around town. They're planning something big," Kankuro explained.

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

Kankuro nodded. "It was an ambush, but we saw through their plans. They expected Gaara, but we managed to burn their base."

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

"No," Kankuro said. "We chased the few who escaped here but didn't realize more were in the village. They claimed we'd never find their leader, and they might be right." He sighed, rubbing his face in frustration. "The leader hides in the shadows, never revealing himself. He's here, watching his handiwork. It's a never-ending job."

Sakura kissed Kankuro on the forehead and whispered, "I'm sorry; I wish I could do more. These explosives keep appearing out of nowhere. I don't know how useful I can be without my puppet."

"I don't care; I'm just grateful you're alright," Kankuro said. He lay his head upon her shoulders, dreaming of the day they would retire and live peacefully away from any more war and destruction. 

Gaara quietly approached the young couple, standing beside a mysterious man they had never met. The stranger had short, pale blue hair, and one of his ocean-blue eyes was missing, replaced by a large scar that marred his small, oval face as if a bear had attacked him.

"Oh, good, you're awake," Gaara said.

Kankuro, his movements slow and cautious, reached for the scroll beside him. "Who is that, Gaara?" he asked.

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

Gaara nodded. "This is Gin, a consultant from the Land of Rivers. They've recently encountered attacks from a dark shadow lurking around their village. He has come here to cross-reference our incidents and find similarities in our witness statements. Gin, this is my elder brother Kankuro, who leads our terrorism division. Beside him is my Advisor, Sakura."

Gin smiled and waved. "I look forward to working with you both."

Gaara turned to Sakura, his expression stern. "You are relieved for the next few days. Take some time off to recover. Gin and I will be at the office to discuss this case further."

The two walked toward the Kazekage's office, leaving Sakura and Kankuro to handle the situation at the hospital. Sakura couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this man who had appeared out of nowhere, claiming he could help with the investigation in the village hidden in the sand. She frowned and turned to Kankuro, whispering, "Something's not right here."

"Did you hear anything from the village hidden in the valley about sending a consultant?" Kankuro 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 Gaara find this guy?"

"It's not like Gaara to bring in outsiders randomly. We need to investigate," Kankuro replied.

Sakura nodded, knowing she would have to spend much more time in the records room soon. Gaara seemed caught in an invisible web controlled by someone they didn't yet understand. Despite being ordered to take a break, she felt that Gaara needed her now more than ever.