Chapter 1: Dusk before Dawn
As he emerged from a longingly indefinite dream within Tsukuyomi, a vision of chaos and harsh reality gradually became clear among surrounding remnants of the horrendous war. Buzzing sounds from other survivors of his allied forces around the area were getting louder into cries of injuries and mourns for lost loved ones.
The Forth Shinobi War had finally come to an end.
"Gaara!" Came a familiar sound of his sister from some distance away. He glanced at the direction to see Temari and Kankuro rushing towards him with worried looks. He straightened up his composure, a habitual sign to give off his calm and collected vibes to assure them of his safety, albeit being battered and bruised all over. His chakra was almost down to zero.
In a blurry moment, his eyes re-focused and scanned the area once more, now searching for something..or rather, someone in particular…the blond shinobi who threw himself in fighting Madara head-on with only a few remaining comrades left in the last decisive battle field, alongside Uchiha Sasuke.
There, his eyes met with the two familiar figures. They successfully took out Madara against all odds and survived after what had to be their destined ultimate final clash, probably long-overdue since they were apart in Konoha years ago. Standing side by side with connecting hands to form the release jutsu, Naruto and Uchiha's expressions were none other than calm and somewhat…peaceful. They have both settled whatever it was between the two…but at what costs?
Something was threatening to leak from Gaara's eyes at the sight before him…something shifting alternately between happiness and pain. He stared across into an empty space at his friend's supposedly right arm and then closed his eyes trying to suppress those overwhelming emotions which he did not quite understand himself.
'That's the price you're willing to pay to save your most precious people right, Naruto? And it could as well have cost much more than that along this chosen path of yours.'
Even the one consumed into the bottomless pit of darkness would eventually give in to the persistent light that stubbornly refused to leave him in there.
Gaara had been in that place once. Not only him, but also many others who had led their own lives in a circle of power greed, false delusions, stupidity and hatred, dragging each others into the same darkness throughout shinobi history.
Would all that be truly over?
Through long deep, meditating breathe, Gaara pushed it to the back of his mind. He would do with whatever blessing was given at the moment. It was surely a long road ahead to change this once broken world into a brighter place for them all. Naruto had risked his life and beyond to light up this first ray of light. And he would do anything in his power to further help make it shine through.
Teal eyes glittering with determination, he stood tall readily himself into his much-needed Kazekage persona. There is so much to do to restore what had been lost and damaged. His siblings approached him, small reassuring smiles plastered on their faces while Suna shinobis started to gather around him. Their exhausted features told past stories but those solemn expressions in each of them also hinted a new one of…hope.
He momentarily gave a subtle gentle smile at himself before rising up to lead them once again, only this time to build up something bigger than what they all had destroyed.
'I'll do it for these precious people of mine, for this world…'
.
.
'I'll do it for You, Naruto'