Chapter 6: Resurrection! Gaara and Masao: Reunited!
Too late! Neji thought as Masao and Naruto's doppelganger each clutched one of Gaara's arms, jumping away from the self destructing man. Suddenly, as the dust settled, Deidara was gone, leaving in his place a large crater in the ground. "What's going on?" Gai asked, shocked as the rest of the shinobi looked on. Tenten sensed something behind her and glanced back, seeing the two with the redhead. A small rip in space lurked where the artist had previously been, getting smaller and smaller revealing where the blond had gone.
Somehow, Kakashi thought, panting heavily, I made it in time. Gai glanced at the tired man and smirked. I expect nothing less from my rival. Suddenly, the silver haired man fell backwards and the real Naruto ran forward to him. "Are you all right, Kakashi-sensei!"
Sakura asked, surprised, as she clutched onto Chiyo, "What in the world did you do?"
"Him and the explosion," he explained, still panting, "I sent them to another dimension." He shifted slightly on the ground. "More importantly, is everyone safe?" A thud sounded behind them and Sakura turned in shock to see Masao and a Naruto clone holding Gaara's limp body.
The double said desperately, "Sakura-chan…"
…:oOo:…
They had all moved to a grassy field out of the forest; Sakura helping Chiyo, and Gai aiding Kakashi. The spandex wearing sensei had set the masked shinobi on the ground, and his team stood behind them. Masao stood with Naruto as Sakura examined the unmoving Kazekage. She clutched Naruto's blue sleeve helplessly, and he shot clandestine, worried glances at her every few moments. Her silver eyes were faded, as if she had nothing else to do with herself then watch the man laid out before her. "Sakura-chan…" Naruto said, uncertain. She looked away from the redhead and stood up sadly. Masao collapsed to the ground as the rest of the group looked on despondently at the deceased Kazekage.
She buried her face in his chest and cried. Silently, but everyone could see the tears dripping from her cheeks and through her fingers. Naruto looked back and forth between her and Gaara, a drop of water sliding down his face. "Why… was Gaara… always Gaara…?" He clenched his fist tightly against his leg. "To die like this…! He's the Kazekage! He didn't just become Kazekage…!"
"Relax, Uzumaki Naruto," Chiyo told him, a slightly cold tone in her voice.
Rounding on her, Naruto screamed, "Shut up!" Tears poured down his face at a much faster rate now, and Masao looked up at him in astonishment, her own still falling in rivers down her pale skin. Chiyo looked shocked at his sudden outburst, and said nothing. "If you shinobi of the Sand hadn't put a monster in Gaara, then nothing like this would've happened! Did any of you even try to ask Gaara how he felt!" Masao felt her face scrunch up as she looked on Gaara's, grasping that no ever had. She and Naruto were practically the only ones who ever worried enough about him to care how he felt. "What is jinchūriki anyway! You just arrogantly made up that word to call them!"
"N-Naruto-san," she choked around her tears. She glanced over at Gaara as Naruto cried, wiping his face off on his jacket sleeve. He watched the young woman, whose face adorned the heartrending water that Gaara's death forced upon her.
Sakura said softly, "Naruto…"
"I couldn't save Sasuke," he sobbed, "and I couldn't save Gaara. For three years… I trained desperately… But nothing's changed since three years ago has it?" He squeezed his eyes closed. "He was killed when people needed him the most! His village, us, and… and Masao!" She felt her throat contract terribly as she watched the distraught young man. "No one should ever have to see someone they love dead…" Abruptly the old woman got up and walked over to Gaara's dead body. She slightly tapped Masao's head, and, as she moved away from Gaara's chest, Chiyo placed her hands on his chest, she focused her chakra into her hands down into his body. Naruto glanced back at her in shock. "…What are you doing?"
Sakura, looking surprised, asked her, "Chiyo-sama! That jutsu is…!" The Sand elder squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating. Chiyo-sama… the cherry haired girl thought sadly.
"What're you trying to do now?" Naruto accused, his tears dry from his face. His Byakugan activated, Neji questioned, uncertain, Medical ninjutsu? Chiyo's words rang through Sakura's mind, the medic-nin gasped softly. There is still something… that I… must do… Her eyesscrunched slightly as she realized the meaning behind the old woman's words. This is what Chiyo-sama was talking about… Exchanging her own life…
Gai said, recognizing what she was doing, asked softly "That's…"
Nodding, Kakashi replied, "Yes…"
Still confused about what was going on, Naruto demanded brashly, "What the hell are you doing!"
Glancing over at her blond friend, the medic-nin answered, "She's bringing Gaara back!" Masao glanced up in shock, wiping the tears off of her face. Her eyes met Sakura's and she shook her head slightly in disbelief.
"Bring him back?" she questioned, glancing at the pale redhead.
The Kyuubi container asked, "Can you… really do something like that?"
With a strangely miserable look on her face, the cherry haired girl replied, "This jutsu is Chiyo's alone…" Neji, still looking on, thought skeptically, That chakra flow… I cannot believe such a convenient jutsu exists… Perhaps…
It carries a risk. One that equals the effect, Kakashi realized, his Sharingan examining the technique.
Chiyo groaned, her chakra flow slowing down and becoming smaller. "Damn…!" she cursed, "Not enough chakra!" She panted heavily, realizing that she wasn't going to be able to pull this off without a significant amount of more chakra.
"Please… use my chakra…" Naruto told her, much to her astonishment. "Old lady, can you do that?" Masao stumbled forward, holding her own hands out, "Me too, Chiyo-san. I want to help." The old woman glanced back and forth between the two, hardly able to believe her ears. What Kakashi told her about the blond came back to her…
Gaara-kun is a jinchūriki like him. So Naruto understands Gaara's feelings more than anyone from the Sand. A jinchūriki is treated the same no matter what the village. That's why… he can't just leave him. Whether Konoha or Suna, it doesn't look like it matters to him.
And what Sakura said about the claret haired girl…
Masao seems to understand Gaara a little bit better than most people, of course not as much as Naruto, but she does understand more than say… me. She's… willing to do anything to get to him, no matter what the cost. She's not even from Sand; she's from a small village called Hikari.
Chiyo's expression became determined and she told the two, "Put your hands on top of mine." They complied and seeped their chakra though the Sand elder's hands, giving her more power to complete the jutsu. Kakashi's praise didn't stop there either. It seems Naruto is someone to be admired…
Naruto's dream is to become Hokage. When he heard that Gaara was Kazekage, he was somewhat upset. …But on the other hand, he also gave him a happy blessing from his heart. Naruto has a mysterious power… Even without saying much, he can become friends with anyone quickly.
And the little girl, from some undistinguished village no one's ever heard of. Sakura's words for the girl were high, and Chiyo finally saw why. The girl's determination was unbelievable…
Her left leg it so beat up it's a wonder she can stand anymore and not even medical ninjutsu can cure something like that. Yet she still tries anyway, despite the pain, because she loves him. She wants to make a difference in his life I think, to show him he doesn't have to be alone anymore. That's what I learned about her.
"I'm glad people like you appeared," she commented to Naruto and Masao, who glanced up at her. "In this world of shinobi that we old people created…" She watched Gaara with oddly pale eyes. The two watched her in surprise. "In the past, it seems everything I did was mistaken. But… at the very end… It seems I am able to do the right thing. Sand… and Konoha… and Hikari," Masao's eyes widened at the name of her own village. "Their futures are differing form our pasts.
"What Kakashi said, your mysterious power… That power may change the future. Become a Hokage like never before." The woman directed her speech towards the tearing Sakura. "And Sakura, do not risk your life for an old hag like me next time. Save that which is important to you. You are… a lot like me. There are not many women with chivalrous spirits matching those of men. You may become a kunoichi surpassing your own master. And I believe you can aid Gaara with his life, Masao. Stay by his side, always. I think you can give him the love he deserved since he was a small boy.
"Naruto, Masao, a request from an old hag. Naruto, you are the only one who can know Gaara's pain; Gaara also knows your pain. And you, young lady, you claim to love him, ne? That must mean you understand him pretty well. You two, help Gaara out." Naruto and Masao glanced at each other and nodded, closing their eyes and adding their chakra to Chiyo-sama's.
A much younger Naruto stood by all of his friends, with a smaller Masao and her group nearby. They glanced at each other and nodded, turning around and running away from the people, much to their surprise. Holding hands, the two friends ran into the white space, searching for someone precious to them. "Gaara!" she shouted, him calling soon after. "Gaara!"
"Who is it…? …Who are they calling?" He glanced down at his hand and thought, "…who?" He shook his head. "This hand…My hand again…"Clenching his fist he glanced up and saw someone positioned a ways away from him, kneeling down in sorrowful tears. "My hand… me?" The boy was all alone, saddened by his loneliness. No one… no one wanted him. No one needed him. No one loved him.
"I… who am I? I am…" A hand was placed on both of his shoulders and he looked to the sides to see a small girl with maroon pigtails in pink on one and a spiky blond haired boy in blue on the other, both smiling at him. They turned older, the pigtailed girl's hair down and shoulder length, a Hikari headband across her forehead, and the boy getting taller, his outfit turning to a blue and orange jumpsuit and a Konoha headband added to his entourage. Gaara recognized his… his friends. Masao and Naruto.
"Gaara," they finished for him, smiling softly.
He finally found his voice and said, "Naruto… Masao…" Glancing around with wide eyes he saw an enormous group of people surrounded him, all of whom look relieved beyond words. With his life back in him again, Gaara woke up to find a scenario he sought, yearned, and dreamed for, one where he had become needed in his village. "This…" Masao laughed and Naruto furrowed his brow happily.
"Everyone came running to save you!"
Punching his shoulder lightly the Sorakage playfully chided, "Hey, you put us through a lot you know, Gaara! I was really worried about you!" She mussed his vermillion hair and he blinked in astonishment, unsure of what to say.
Stepping up from the group, Kankurou nodded, surprising the poor boy even more, and agreed with her. "For sure. You're the little brother I always have to worry about, eh?" Masao laughed slightly and spotted Temari nearby, crossing her arms.
"Hey," she started, her eyes closed in exasperation, "don't go getting all complacent. Gaara's still the Kazekage, so don't be so cheeky. You underlings!" Naruto and Kankurou shot her annoyed looked, and the Jounin nudged Masao with a wink. "Except you of course Sorakage-sama." Pushing the blond jinchūriki out of the way she leaned forward to her little brother and asked, concerned, "Gaara, how are you feeling?"
Placing a hand on his knee the Kazekage tried to stand, but groaned. Worriedly, Masao told him, "You shouldn't be in such a hurry to move. You're not completely healed yet!" He glanced back at her, hesitant. She gave him a half-smile, and patted his shoulder again. Gaara felt his cheeks color very slightly and averted his eyes away from her. Temari looked back at a couple of girls who were talking and sweat dropped as they ran that way.
The light haired one called, "Next time for sure, I'll get Gaara-sama out of whatever mess he's in!" While the dark haired one called, "No me!" The protective older sister of the Kazekage prevented the fan girls from getting to him, but was unable to stop them from knocking Naruto to the ground.
The brunette of the two asked, pointing at Masao, "Where does she get off?"
"Yo," Masao glared at the two, her hands on her hips. "I'm tired, hurt and at the end of my patience! I would like to spend some quality time with Gaara, so GO AWAY WOMAN!" The girls looked astonished, as Temari explained the situation to them with very little detail, practically saying that Masao was Gaara's girlfriend without actually using those words. Gaara blinked in astonishment at Masao, uncertain of what to think and trying to suppress the slight feeling of pleasure at her possessive attitude.
Sighing, Masao knelt by him, examining his pale face very closely. "Are you sure you're okay?" He nodded and she breathed with relief, running a hand through her claret locks. "That's good. I was really worried about you. If you ever do that again expect to get a good tongue-lashing, you understand m-me?" He glanced up at her in surprise at the cracking of her voice and saw tears pouring heavily down her cheeks.
"M-Masao..." She hugged him close, causing Gaara to blush and making the girls frown. No. Fair.
"…Chiyo's passed out from tiredness now, but she'll be fine when she gets back to the—" Naruto started a few feet away, but Kankurou cut him off with a despondent no. Masao sighed and looked back at the unaware blond, tightening her hold reflexively on Gaara's sleeve. The redhead glanced at her pained face then back at the ground. "What d'you mean no?"
Kankurou explained, his face scrunched in depression, "That was no medical ninjutsu, Naruto." He glanced back at her, disbelieving. "It was a tensei (life transfer) ninjutsu. Chiyo, she's… she's dead." A look of horror crossed his features, soon replaced by one of incredulity.
"What are you saying?" he asked, his voice wavering.
Kankurou replied, "A ninjutsu that restores life in exchange for the user's own." Neji, Tenten, Lee, Gai, and Naruto all looked at him in silent alarm as he explained, "At one time in the Sand's Puppet Squad, people tried to research and develop a jutsu that would give life to the puppets. Chiyo led that." He glanced at the old woman, whom was being held by Sakura, and sighed. "She worked out the theory behind the jutsu. But in the process, saying that the risk of the jutsu was too high, even before experimentation, it was designated a forbidden jutsu and sealed away."
His eyes widened as her previous words ran through his mind, What Kakashi said, your mysterious power to alter people. That power may change the future… Become a Hokage unlike any before…
Chiyo-sama, Sakura thought, holding tightly onto the old woman she had come to adore. She just couldn't accept it, yet she knew that in the end she would have to. There was nothing that could bring the old woman back to life. "'I'm just playing dead.'" the deceased woman's brother commented, looking on his sister. "I keep expecting her to laugh out loud and say that…" He examined her face and blinked, commenting, "Hmm… such a peaceful expression she has now."
The cherry haired girl tightened her grip on the old woman's arm, and replied softly, gentle tears flowing down her face, "…Yes." Masao felt her own start to stream down her own skin as she and Gaara glanced over at the two. The Kazekage turned his gaze to the Sorakage and gently wiped her cheeks off with the back of his hand. She looked up at him, but he made no reply. His eyes slid closed and he fell forward, trembling slightly.
"Gaara-sama," one of the girls commented worriedly, reaching out for him.
He replied shakily, "It's okay." Naruto grasped one of his arms, helping him up, and the two of them along with Masao walked over to where Sakura-chan sat with Chiyo-baasama in her arms. She glanced up at them, tears still wet on her cheeks. The three watched her with depressed eyes. Without taking his blue orbs away from his savoir he said softly, "Everyone, say a prayer for Chiyo." They all bowed their heads in respect for their loved companion.
