Chapter 15: The Breaking Point

The hidden chamber echoed with tension. Deidara's smirk never wavered as his eyes shifted between the unconscious Gaara and the furious team standing before him. The sphere of sand swirling around Gaara was still intact, but Suki could feel the sinister energy pulsing through it. If they didn't act fast, Gaara might not survive.

Naruto's body crackled with the red chakra of the Nine-Tails, his patience worn thin. "Gaara's right there! We can't let them get away!"

Yamato, steady as ever, held out a hand to calm him. "We need a strategy. Deidara and Sasori aren't pushovers. Suki, can you dismantle the sphere while we hold them off?"

Suki nodded, stepping forward cautiously. Her cursed energy swirled around her fingertips as she extended her hands toward Gaara. The sand barrier was infused with Akatsuki's chakra, but she could sense weak points in the energy. Slowly, she began unraveling the threads of chakra that held the sphere together.

Meanwhile, Yamato, Naruto, and Sakura squared off against the two Akatsuki members. Deidara hovered nearby, perched on his clay bird, his cocky grin infuriating Naruto further. "Oh, I wouldn't interfere if I were you," Deidara taunted. "My art's about to go off."

A series of small clay birds detached from Deidara's hand, flying toward the team. Yamato moved quickly, raising a wooden barrier with his Wood Release to shield them from the explosions.

"We'll have to deal with him fast," Yamato said. "Sakura, you take Sasori. Naruto, with me."

Naruto barely acknowledged Yamato's command, his eyes fixed on Deidara. His rage was palpable, and it was clear that the Nine-Tails was influencing him. "You're not getting away!"

Sakura nodded, her eyes locked on Sasori, the puppet master. Her fists clenched, ready to face him, but her mind raced. She knew Sasori's reputation—he was deadly and precise. She couldn't afford any mistakes.

Suki focused entirely on Gaara. The sand barrier fought back, resisting her cursed energy, but she pressed on. She could feel Gaara's faint life force beneath it, and she wasn't about to let him die here. Sweat trickled down her forehead as she worked, every second crucial.

The Clash

Naruto charged at Deidara, his Rasengan spinning in his hand, but the Akatsuki member was too quick, flying up and out of reach on his clay bird. Yamato created wooden platforms to elevate Naruto, allowing him to continue the chase.

"You're too slow!" Deidara called out, hurling more explosive birds at Naruto, who dodged with increasing speed and agility. His movements became more erratic, driven by the burning desire to save Gaara and punish Deidara.

Sakura, on the other hand, faced Sasori's puppet army. His puppets moved with deadly precision, but Sakura's strength and speed were formidable. With a single punch, she shattered the puppets into splinters. But Sasori was calm, too calm. He was waiting for the right moment to strike with his true puppet—himself.

Amidst the chaos, Suki's hands trembled as the sand sphere slowly unraveled. She could finally see Gaara's face, pale and weak, but he was still alive. With one final push of her cursed energy, the sphere shattered, and Gaara's body slumped into her arms.

"I've got him!" she called out, her voice strained. Relief washed over her, but it was short-lived as Deidara's mocking laughter echoed in the chamber.

"Too late," he said, detonating a large clay bird directly above them.

The explosion rocked the chamber, sending debris flying. Yamato threw up a wooden barrier to shield the group, but Deidara used the distraction to escape.

"No! He's getting away!" Naruto shouted, his voice filled with frustration.

"Let him go," Yamato said, his voice firm. "We have Gaara. That's what matters."

Naruto wanted to argue, but one look at Gaara's lifeless body silenced him. They had what they came for. Now they needed to get Gaara back to safety.