A Favor From Temari

Several minutes later, the battle had finally ended. With the combined efforts of Granny Chiyo and Sakura, Sasori had been utterly beaten. He was strong—inhumanly so—but in the end, he allowed himself to be defeated, offering no resistance as the final blow was struck. His core was pierced, the very essence of his existence shattered.

As his body stiffened, his gaze softened, losing the cold, detached demeanor he once carried. With the last remnants of his consciousness, he reached for the puppets crafted in the image of his parents. His fingers barely brushed against them as he whispered his final wish.

To be held by them one last time.

His unmoving body slumped to the ground, resting between the arms of the two wooden figures, a cruel yet poetic conclusion to his story.

Meanwhile, Travis slowly stirred awake.

His eyes blinked open, adjusting to the dim light of the hideout. But something immediately caught his attention.

The damn ceiling was gone.

Chunks of debris and dust floated through the air, the aftermath of the battle evident in the ruined surroundings.

'Man, that was a good nap,' he thought, stretching as he got to his feet.

He took a few steps forward, surveying the damage before his gaze landed on Sakura and Chiyo. The two of them were battered, their bodies covered in bruises, scratches, and deep gashes from the intense fight.

Travis sighed, shaking his head as he approached.

"See? I told you. Now, let's go to Naruto," he said, extending a hand toward Sakura.

She hesitated for a moment before grasping it. The instant their hands touched, a warm, soothing energy coursed through her body.

A gasp escaped her lips as she felt it—her wounds closing at an alarming rate, the pain that had been weighing her down vanishing completely. It was as if the battle had never happened.

"What... just happened?" she muttered in disbelief, staring down at her hands. Her body felt rejuvenated, as though she had never been injured in the first place.

Without answering, Travis turned his attention to Chiyo. With effortless ease, he lifted the frail woman into his arms, and in a matter of seconds, she, too, was fully restored.

Chiyo blinked, flexing her fingers as the pain dissipated. Her old, weary bones no longer ached, her body feeling more alive than it had in years.

Travis simply glanced at them. "Let's go," he said, already walking ahead.

Sakura and Chiyo exchanged stunned glances. Even if Travis had been a medical ninja, the speed of his healing was unnatural—impossible.

'Who really are you, Travis?' Sakura wondered, her gaze lingering on him as they followed.

By the time they reached the others, Team Gai had also arrived, looking victorious but exhausted. The clones they had fought had been strong, nearly identical to them in skill and technique. But in the end, the originals had triumphed—simply because they had grown stronger than they had been before.

However, the brief moment of relief was cut short.

Not too far ahead, Deidara stood atop his clay bird, watching them with an eerie grin. His single visible eye glowed with amusement, as if he had been expecting them.

But then, his smile widened.

Without hesitation, he moved to detonate himself—intending to wipe out not just himself, but every single one of them in the process.

The moment he activated the jutsu, Travis stepped forward. His movements were deliberate, unwavering, as if he had already anticipated this outcome.

Raising his hand, he muttered under his breath.

'Blue Vene Anhaben.'

In an instant, a transparent blue barrier materialized around them, stretching high into the sky like an impenetrable dome.

And then—

BOOOOOM!

The explosion erupted with devastating force, consuming everything in its path. The shockwave was deafening, tearing through the terrain with sheer destructive energy. The ground split, trees disintegrated, and the sky was set ablaze with the sheer magnitude of the blast.

Yet, within the barrier, they remained untouched.

Everyone stared at Travis in pure shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.

As the dust settled, they finally saw the aftermath.

Where a dense forest once stood, there was now only destruction—a massive crater stretching across the landscape, with the remnants of shattered trees and burning earth surrounding them.

Travis exhaled, lowering his hand as the blue barrier flickered out of existence. He turned toward the group, his expression unreadable.

"Let's leave this area before anyone from the Akatsuki comes looking for us," he stated simply before walking away.

Behind him, Gai exchanged a glance with Kakashi, his brows furrowed. "Kakashi, do you know anything about that guy?"

Kakashi folded his arms, watching Travis with an unreadable expression. "No. I know nothing. In fact, none of us do. All we know is that he's very strong."

They continued moving until they reached an open grass field, far away from the ruins of the forest. The area was silent, the tension thick in the air.

Everyone stood around Gaara, his lifeless body lying still on the ground.

Naruto, unable to contain his emotions any longer, fell to his knees, his eyes brimming with tears. His hands clenched into fists, frustration and grief intertwining in his heart.

But then, Travis stepped forward once more.

He knelt beside Gaara's body, his fingers stretching outward as a small blue sphere materialized in his palm. The glow pulsated with an unfamiliar energy—something foreign, something not of this world.

He pressed it against Gaara's chest.

"Auswahlen," he murmured.

The light expanded, washing over Gaara's body in a soft yet overwhelming glow. The energy pulsed for a brief moment before fading, vanishing into nothing.

Travis stood up, stepping away without another word.

'I hope I don't regret this,' he thought, his gaze lingering on the unmoving Kazekage. 'Well, I probably won't. It's not like he can awaken an ability. He lacks the properties to gain one.'

Sakura, still trying to process what had just happened, turned to Travis. "What did you just do?"

Travis didn't answer. He simply gestured toward Gaara. "See for yourself."

She hesitated, then bent down, pressing her fingers against Gaara's neck.

Her eyes widened.

She felt it. A pulse.

Checking him thoroughly, her shock only grew.

Gaara was completely revived. There was no sign of damage, no lingering effects of death—nothing. It was as if he had never died in the first place.

"Guys... he's alive," she breathed out.

Naruto snapped his head toward her. "What!?"

Without wasting a second, he scrambled forward, pressing his hands against Gaara's chest. When he felt the steady rise and fall of breath, his own breath hitched.

"He really is… Gaara is alive!!" he shouted, his voice cracking with joy.

A wave of shock rippled through the group. Even Granny Chiyo, who had prepared herself for the worst, felt her lips curve into a small, grateful smile.

She turned her gaze toward Travis. Though she didn't say it aloud, the gratitude in her eyes was clear.

'Thank you,' she thought.

Lee furrowed his brows. "But how? Is there even a jutsu that has such an ability?"

Neji, however, had been watching Travis closely. Using his Byakugan, he attempted to analyze him, to see the flow of chakra within him.

But what he saw sent a chill down his spine.

Darkness.

Nothing but an abyss.

His gaze hardened. 'How odd…'

Gai, however, chose to lighten the mood. "Well, we should celebrate!" He turned his head toward the distance. "Oh, it seems that the Sand ninja have finally arrived."

As Gaara's siblings rushed to his side, Kankurou looked toward the group, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

"Thank you. Without you, my brother wouldn't be with us right now."

Naruto grinned. "Oh, it's nothing! Just helping a friend is all. Be sure to message us when he wakes up!"

Sakura nodded. "Yeah, if he needs any medical help, just call me."

And with that, the weight of battle finally began to lift.

....

Everyone returned to the Sand Village, where they were greeted with cheers and relief. The villagers surrounded Gaara, their expressions filled with joy and admiration for their Kazekage's miraculous return.

Gaara, now fully recovered, slowly rose to his feet, his piercing teal eyes scanning the crowd. The overwhelming gratitude in their faces made his heart clench. He had always felt like an outcast, a monster—but now, he could see the love and devotion his people had for him.

Turning toward his allies, he bowed his head slightly.

"Thank you… all of you," he said, his voice firm yet filled with sincerity. His gaze lingered on Naruto, who stood with a proud yet emotional expression. "Especially you, Naruto."

Naruto grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Hey, that's what friends are for, right?"

As the group dispersed, giving Gaara time to reunite with his people, Travis stood off to the side, watching the heartfelt moment unfold.

That was when he noticed Temari standing next to him.

She turned toward him, her face slightly flushed as she tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. There was an unusual softness in her gaze, a stark contrast to her usual tough, no-nonsense demeanor.

"I heard what you did for my brother," she said, her voice carrying a rare gentleness. "I really am thankful. I wish I could repay you somehow, but… I don't know how."

Travis turned to her, his expression relaxed as he shrugged. "It's nothing big. You don't have to repay me, but if you really want to…" He paused, then smirked. "How about we go on a date sometime? I'd like to get to know you better."

Temari's eyes widened slightly, her blush deepening. She wasn't used to being caught off guard, but Travis had managed to do just that. A small smile tugged at her lips as she crossed her arms.

"I'd like to get to know you as well," she admitted. "It was nice meeting you, Travis."

He grinned. "Likewise."

With that, their conversation ended, but the warmth lingered between them.

As everyone prepared to head back to the Leaf Village, Travis walked with a confident stride, his grin never leaving his face. The entire journey back, he felt lighter—more excited.

'Damn,' he thought. 'I'm this close to bagging a bad bitch.'

And that alone made the whole trip worth it.

TO BE CONTINUED

[A/N: Time for some action in this story. ]