Having had their path cleared, Ace, Sakura, and Naruto arrived at the scene of the battle that had already taken place between Gaara and Sasuke. They found Sasuke battered and pinned against a tree from the last move in the fight. Ace quickly assessed the situation and decided on their course of action. "Sakura, try some genjutsu to hold him. Naruto, cover my attack," Ace ordered, his tone serious as he readied his Blaze Release.

"On it," Sakura replied, focusing her chakra and casting a powerful genjutsu on Gaara. For a moment, it took hold, freezing him in place and diverting his attention to her. But with a surge of willpower and skill, Gaara broke free from the illusion.

"Blaze Release: Fire Fist!" Ace called out, throwing a massive flaming punch that struck Gaara, sending him flying. Naruto immediately followed up, summoning a horde of shadow clones to attack Gaara from all sides, slamming him into the ground. But Gaara, driven by the One-Tail's power, retaliated fiercely, his sand sweeping away the clones and sending Ace and Sakura tumbling back.

Ace quickly got to his feet, glancing at Naruto and Sakura. "Sakura, get Sasuke out of here. Naruto, let's try this again. We can't let this guy win."

Sakura nodded, understanding the urgency. She quickly moved towards Sasuke who was laying on the ground but had pushed himself up to his feet. Sasuke gave her a serious look. One that made Sakura realize that no matter what she said he wasn't going to give up this fight even for a moment. That he was going to fight on. She decided to let him, and not push him on the issue.

Naruto, his face set with determination, formed more shadow clones. "You got it, Ace. We got this!. Let's show him the power of Konoha ninja!"

Gaara, partially transformed and consumed by Shukaku's influence, let out a roar of rage. His sand whirled around him like a living entity, ready to strike. "You won't stop me... None of you will!"

Ace gritted his teeth, his hands igniting with Blaze Release flames. "We'll see about that. Naruto, go!"

Naruto attacked with his clones, the attack had mixed results as Naruto landed a few hits, but most of the clones were dispatched by Gaara's sand. Gaara's abilities only grew more powerful as he lost his mental state in the heat of battle.

"Blaze Release: Inferno Burst!" Ace yelled, unleashing a torrent of flames at Gaara.

Suddenly, Sasuke, refusing to leave the battlefield, rejoined the fight. "Chidori!" he yelled, his hand crackling with lightning as he drove it into Gaara for the second time that night before pulling back just as the torrent of flames slammed into Gaara full force.

Sakura managed to freeze Gaara again with her genjutsu for a moment, allowing the attacks to hit home. Despite her best efforts, she could feel the challenge was a bit over her head.

Gaara let out a roar as he began to transform further, sending sand out in all directions in the shape of small needles that cut through everyone there, leaving them all bleeding or bruised.

"Sakura, one last time with your most powerful genjutsu. I have a plan. Ace, throw out everything you have. Sasuke, you too, please," Naruto called out, his voice filled with determination as he gathered his chakra for a risky move.

Sakura nodded, steeling herself as she prepared to cast another genjutsu. "Right, Naruto. Let's do this."

Ace's hands ignited with even more intense flames. "Got it, Naruto. Let's finish this."

Sasuke, despite his injuries, stood ready. "I won't back down. Let's end this."

Gaara, fully consumed by the One-Tail's influence, roared in defiance, his sand swirling around him like a protective barrier.

Sakura cast her genjutsu, focusing all her remaining chakra to hold Gaara in place. Her move kept him still as she was burning through her own chakra fast, and wouldn't be able to hold it very long at all.

Ace looked forward as he released a massive blast of fire, "Blaze Release, Entei," he called out as he used most of his own chakra that he had left in the insanely powerful fire move that cut right at Gaara burning up most of the outer layer of defense.

"Chidori," Sasuke called out as he attacked again hitting the same spot as before with his Chidori, hitting through the inner layer of defense as he just missed killing Gaara by a bit, before being sent back slamming into a tree a second later.

As the combined attacks converged on Gaara, Naruto, with a determined look, called out, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Naruto didn't create one or two shadow clones, he created hundreds that attacked en masse at Gaara. They moved in quickly, their speed and abilities allowing them to launch their attack, "Naruto Shadow Clone Barrage," he called out. As a group they knocked Gaara back and up into the sky, hitting him over and over again before launching him into the ground as hard as they could, creating a crater around where he hit.

For a moment after the attack it looked like the heroes had won this fight as silence fell over the battlefield. The four warriors were breathing hard but sure they had subdued Gaara, until suddenly an attack flew right at Sakura, catching her completely off guard. Luckily Ace grabbed her and moved her out of the way, taking a glancing cut across his back as a result of the attack and rolling on the ground. Gaara was starting to transform into the full-sized One-Tail that towered completely over the four others.

Naruto looked at the situation and knew what he had to do. He quickly performed the summoning jutsu. "Sasuke, cover Sakura and Ace. I have this one, this time," he called out as he summoned Gamabunta, rising up into the sky at the same level as the One-Tails.

"Naruto... be careful," Sakura whispered, her worry evident.

"We'll hold the line," Sasuke said, positioning himself protectively in front of Sakura and Ace.

Ace, despite his injuries, forced a grin. "Don't you dare lose, Naruto."

Naruto, now on top of Gamabunta, looked down at his friends and then at the massive form of the One-Tail. "I won't lose. Believe it!"

The two great giants clashed, their movements swift and powerful as Gamabunta dodged a sand attack and countered with an air bullet. The battle grew more intense, even Gamabunta knew he couldn't hold out forever against the power that was Shukaku. However, he didn't have to do so.

Naruto, standing on Gamabunta's head, looked down and came up with a quick plan. Below, Ace observed the struggle and had an idea. "I want to try something," Ace said, coming to his feet. "Sakura, this is it for me. Blaze Release: Flame Pillar!" Ace called out as he created a heated spot on the ground that erupted into a towering pillar of fire, cutting up at Shukaku. The attack forced Shukaku to dodge, taking his focus off Gamabunta for a split second.

In that moment, Gamabunta closed in and grabbed onto Shukaku. Naruto charged forward, leaping onto Shukaku, and headbutted Gaara as hard as he could. The impact brought Gaara back to reality, his eyes widening in shock as he met Naruto's determined gaze. For a moment, Naruto smiled at him before retreating back, leaving Gaara to fall to the forest floor below.

Naruto had won the fight, but as he stood over the defeated Gaara, he hesitated. He didn't want to finish him off. "Gaara, being alone sucks. Being without friends sucks. But you can make them. You can be bigger than just a tool or container for a monster. I know it. I was once alone too, without friends, and I made friends. If I can, so can you."

A moment later, Temari arrived with Kankuro over one shoulder. She quickly grabbed Gaara to get him out of there. Naruto watched them go, knowing he could stop them and force a bigger defeat, but he chose not to. He let them go, understanding the pain Gaara felt and wanting to give him a chance to change.

Naruto turned back to his allies, helping them to their feet. Ace, breathing heavily and still injured, grinned at Naruto. "You did good, Naruto."

Sakura nodded, supporting Sasuke who was very much wounded and worn out as well. "Let's get back to the village. Everyone needs medical attention."

Ace, Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke returned to the village soon after the battle. They were treated for their injuries quickly. None of the three suffered from any critical injuries luckily and soon they were patched up and checked out as thre were so many others there for more serious wounds. The three soon would find Kaza nearby.

What they came to learn was that the village was in a rather somber mood after the harsh battle. Many people had suffered, many had died. The most notable of those who had died was the Third Hokage, who had died while fighting Orochimaru. The atmosphere was heavy with grief and uncertainty as they faced the future without their longtime leader.

Kaza, despite his own injuries, smiled at Ace and Sakura as they entered his room. "Ace, Sakura, awesome work," he said, his voice filled with pride. "You guys took on a jinchuriki and came out on top, with a lot of help from Sasuke and Naruto, of course."

Ace grinned, a mix of exhaustion and relief in his eyes. "Thanks, Kaza. It was a tough fight, but we pulled through."

Sakura nodded, her expression a mix of weariness and determination. "Yeah, we did. But it wasn't just us. Everyone played a crucial part. We wouldn't have made it without each other."

Naruto, who had been quietly reflecting on the battle, looked up with a determined expression. "We need to get stronger. There's still so much we need to protect, and we can't afford to lose anyone else."

Sasuke, leaning against the wall, nodded in agreement. "Naruto's right. This is just the beginning. We have to be ready for whatever comes next."

Kaza, despite his injuries, felt a renewed sense of purpose. "We'll get stronger together. We have to get stronger, and I know we will, just think about how far we have already come along our paths."

The following day was the day of grief, the day when those who died fighting against the attack were laid to rest. The largest of these funerals was for the Third Hokage, but there were many others as well. The weather decided to create a fitting atmosphere too as it rained hard, as if the heavens themselves were in mourning for the losses.

As the first days without direct leadership of any Kage passed and plans were drawn up for how to find a replacement. Kaza, Ace, and Sakura were called forward to take up an important mission that would have a large impact on the future of Konoha. While Naruto, and Jiraiya were going after Tsunade. Ace, Sakura and Kaza were going to have an equally important mission. They would find out that Ryota was going to lead it as well. Their objective: to find Amon Senju, Ryota's former teacher and the grandson of Tobirama Senju, and talk him into returning to the village.

Standing before Ryota, the trio listened intently. Ace, still bearing the marks of their recent battle, exchanged a glance with Kaza. Sakura, her resolve hardened by the events, nodded in understanding.

"Okay, kids, we are headed north," Ryota began, his tone serious but filled with pride. "This mission might be one of the most important ones yet. Aoba is working with others, and since I'm not an active ninja, I was allowed to take on this mission without causing any issues." He looked at his sons, Ace and Kaza, and then at Sakura, with a smile of encouragement.

"Our target is my genin teacher, and the grandson of Tobirama Senju, Amon Senju, the greatest ninja I have ever known," Ryota informed them. "Let's get moving, and I think I might have an idea to help each of you improve along the way."

Ace's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of meeting such a legendary figure. Ryota had told him a lot about Amon during his youth, as the stories that Ryota had often had Amon in them."Amon Senju? This is going to be amazing! I can't wait to learn from someone like him."

Kaza nodded, as he too had heard about Amon, how he was the master of the flying raijin jutsu, a master swordsman, and a master of both lightning and water jutsu. Kaza was excited to meet this legend as much as his brother. "I can wait, we will do our best to bring him back."

"Yeah, we have this, we will because we have to," Sakura said as she looked at the others feeling confident. She felt that with her teammates she could help make the impossible possible.

Ryota smiled at their enthusiasm and determination. "I have no doubt about that. Now, let's move out. We have a long journey ahead as soon as possible, meet me at the front gate in an hour, boys, Sakura be ready for anything."