Chapter 23: Redemption

A/N: Hey it's a secret I had to hide in the closet just to type this one down. winks I'm not kidding. Please R n R.

Back in the village…

"Hey kitty… why don't you eat?" Naruto started poking the little cub's fury head staring blankly at the massive gates as she had ever since Gaara and Sakura left. "Naruto… that's no kitty… it's a tiger cub," Shikamaru said lazily as he and Ino walked towards him. "Keep on agitating her like that and you'll get what you deserve…" Ino teased the blond ninja as knowing he had been bitten once by the cub not seriously though.

"But… she hasn't eaten in days… ever since…" Naruto said worriedly. "Yeah ever since they left…" Ino continued. "But what's with Sasuke? He came back all battered. And when we asked him what happened he simply ignored us as if he didn't even exist," The ninja with spiked ponytail asked as he sat beside Naruto behind the shadow of the city gates. "What's new? He was always like that…" Ino unconsciously said as she stared blankly outside the gates. Shikamaru could only look at her with jealousy in his eyes. He knew what went on between Sasuke and Ino before… he played with her… but still she forgave him and they again became friends. He on the other hand had nothing to do but take it all in a stride.

"Ino, what's wrong?" Naruto asked as he looked at the blond kunoichi's flabbergasted expression. She looks as if she wants to say something but her mouth can't express so she pointed at the two figures slowly approaching the gates. The two ninjas followed the direction in which she had pointed and as they saw them they were first dumbstruck as well.

Azrael jumped from her seat and ran towards Gaara. The sand master having no choice… let the cub trample him. It's strange how she's grown in such little time. Her paws and tongue were everywhere, he merely grunted as Azrael continued to show him how much she missed him. Sakura only laughed upon looking at the sweet reunion.

"Sakura! Gaara!" Naruto called as he ran towards them followed by the two. "Where have you been?" Ino asked as she eyed the two. "Long story," she replied as she and the others proceeded to the village.

The others were all surprised to see their return. "Did you find what you wanted?" Tsunade asked her pupil. Sakura nodded cheerfully. Looking into the far side, she saw Gaara and the Kazekage making their way towards the next room. She knew that a lot of smart counseling was in store for him for leaving without a formal announcement. Sakura could only smile as Gaara looked back at her with a facial expression of boredom and irritation.

"Kagura-san, if we are to leave tomorrow. Can I have my first and last request?" Sakura asked as the meeting was adjourned. "Sure anything," Kagura replied reluctantly. "I want the whole village to see us off. Is that possible?" she asked. "Of course," Kagura answered with a forced smile. Sakura happily nodded as she walked away leaving Kagura in a state of confusion.

The villagers really came to see them off. Standing in an elevated ground, Sakura smiled as she saw this. I would undo the past… to make way for the future. She thought of as she removed her necklace.

"Where's Sakura?" Gaara inquired the others as they were all ready to set off. "I don't know but she left earlier," Ino replied as she searched the crowd taking notice of the forced smiles on everyone's faces.

With the black phoenix pendant in her hand, "Awaken, Whisperwind!" she ordered and as she did the pendant combusted into a harmless silver flame then it took shape of a huge weightless transparent blade visible only to Sakura.

The villagers suddenly grew aware of the weight in their limbs as gold chains materialized around them. Gaara and the other ninjas were baffled at what was happening. "What's happening?" the Kazekage asked. "We are prisoners of the earth… ever since the deed of greed took shape to envy," she replied in riddle. "What are you saying?" Tsunade was the one to question.

"I need your help… Illidan!" she summoned the beast that she now controlled. From afar, the black phoenix made its way from the rising sun, flapping its massive wings surrounded by silver flame. Crowned with a crimson fire and its eyes glowing dark red, it made its way towards its master.

The crowd and the ninjas as well were astounded to see the huge phoenix in the open. They stared at it as it landed on the nearest hill beside the pink haired kunoichi.

Sakura held the wind blade crosswise in front of her chest. "I don't know how to heal their souls. In fact, I have no idea how. But this I know, I will give them the thing they were begging for ever since. I as the last templar… as the last summoner… grant them… forgiveness," with that she planted the Whisperwind into the earth.

The phoenix took the skies as it sang a sad but liberating song. It flew across the village and with it specks of silver dust rained. From the Whisperwind, an enormous aura spread through out the land and as it did the chains that held the villagers broke.

"I believe that men are born naked… without chains. No one is born to be cursed," Sakura said as she descended from the hill with the phoenix pendant around her neck.

Tears welled up in Kagura's eyes. They were free. "Thank you," she can't express the gratitude she would like to say.

"Uhh, Sakura-can, what just happened?" Naruto asked the question everyone wanted to ask as well. "They were cursed because they were the ones who started to fear the power of my clan. In the end, they annihilated almost everyone… When I was in the darkness, I came to realize what is it that they really needed… forgiveness… is their redemption from their sin." Sakura replied with a smile.

After moments of rejoicing, it's time to leave. "Sakura-san, can I talk with you for a moment?" Kagura requested. Sakura nodded and followed her to a near corner.

Looking on the ground, "Sakura-san… I'm sorry for the way that I treated you before. It's just that I know how to react when I learnt you're a member of the clan that we wiped out. I don't know how to face you…" Kagura apologized. "Forgiven," she said without hesitation. "What?" "If I were in your position I wouldn't have known how to act as well. But… it would be better if… you stop leaving in the mistakes of the past and look for the possibilities of the future… that way you'll enjoy your life better." She said as she looked into the happy faces of the villagers.

"You will return… that much I know for you have too many unanswered questions. Know that our village will always be happy to welcome you," Kagura offered before they went back to the others.

"Do you really have to go Panda-niisan?" Mai asked with puppy dog eyes. Gaara merely nodded. Upon seeing this, the little girl started crying. Gaara felt guilty about the situation and didn't know what to do so he turned to Sakura. Sakura playfully raised her eyebrow as she looked from him to the Mai. With a deep sigh, the sand master bent forward and took the little girl in his arms and carried her.

Mai embraced Gaara as he carried her. The others especially the ninjas and the Kazekage were surprised to see this kind of endearment from the known heartless sand master. "Panda-niisan… could you carry me too?" Naruto teased with blue puppy dog eyes. Gaara stared at the blond ninja with his famous death glare and in an instant Naruto froze.

Kouga, Hyakku, Brick, Fuuma and Syaoran approached Sakura. "You know, you're a great leader," "Feel free to drop by," "Yeah, maybe by then we can beat you," "You're always welcome here," they each said except for one. "Thanks guys… you were great as well," Sakura replied with a tint of bashfulness. "Hey Syaoran, say something," Brick told Syaoran as he tapped his shoulder. And as he did Syaoran looked at Sakura with intense.

"What's wrong Syaoran?" she asked nervously. Syaoran walked right up to her and kissed her lips. Sakura was so shocked about what just happened that she couldn't even react. Syaoran kissed her Sakura's eyes were as huge as dinner plates. It was only when Syaoran drew back that Sakura was able to respond. "Eeeeehhhhh!" she exclaimed.

Gaara was also surprised but when he was about to grab Syaoran's neck and choke the life out of him. Syaoran said "That's my way of saying "Thank you." With that, Sakura started to calm her rising nerves then she smiled. "Why only Syaoran… I'm going to thank Sakura as well," Fuuma teased. Gaara stood in front of Sakura protectively as if saying "Back off or you'll die." They only smiled as Sakura stuck out her tongue playfully at them and finally waved goodbye.

They left the village of the Xenoliths. This time the villagers wore their truest smiles as they looked at the people who saved not only their village but their lives as well.

Kagura watch as the group's figures disappeared into the entrance cave. Who would've thought that silly pink haired kunoichi have done so much?

A/N: Okay, I know this is really short that's why I had to post in together with another chapter so please R n R.