Kakashi kept his team close, eyes locked on Sakura as she stood tall in her Sage Mode. "Stay sharp," he instructed, his voice calm but firm. "We don't know the full extent of his abilities yet."

Sasori observed Sakura with a calculating gaze, intrigued by the raw, unrefined power exuding from her. His lips curled into a smirk. "A Perfect Sage and her entourage, this should be interesting," he mused. With a fluid motion, he reached up and unclasped his Akatsuki robe, letting it fall away to reveal his true form. The wooden plates of his puppet body gleamed under the dim light, segmented joints clicking as he moved with an eerie grace.

Kankuro's eyes widened in a mix of awe and horror. "So that's how you've stayed so young all these years," he muttered. "He turned his own body into a puppet... his craftsmanship is beyond anything I've seen."

Temari's expression darkened. "So that's his secret to immortality. Damn, this guy's seriously twisted."

Sasori extended an arm toward them, his voice carrying a sinister edge. "You shouldn't have come." With a sharp whir, his wrist flipped open, and a searing torrent of flames shot out in a scorching arc.

Kakashi reacted instantly, slamming his hands to the ground.

[Earth Style: Mud Wall]

A thick earthen barricade rose before them just in time, absorbing the brunt of the inferno. The flames crashed against the wall, cracking it but not breaking through.

Temari dashed to the side, her fan snapping open.

[Ninja Art: Cyclone Jutsu]

With a powerful swing, she redirected the fire with natural wind rather than chakra-enhanced gusts, dispersing it harmlessly into the air. "His flame attacks won't work as long as I'm here," she said confidently.

Sakura crouched low behind Kakashi, fingers flashing through hand signs. Her Sage-enhanced senses locked onto Sasori's location behind the wall. "Got you." She spat out a precise jet of caustic liquid.

[Sage Art: Venom Cutter]

A piercing stream of corrosive acid sliced through the mud wall, hissing violently as it shot toward Sasori. His mechanical reflexes saved him, his body twisting unnaturally as he dodged. "Impressive," he admitted, landing smoothly. "But let's see how you handle this."

Sasori's opposite arm snapped forward, releasing a pressurized stream of water. The jet carved through the terrain like a blade, slicing apart rocks and boulders as it tore toward the group.

Sakura leapt to the side, her hands already forming more seals.

[Wood Style: Earth Thorn Jutsu]

A series of jagged wooden spikes erupted from the ground beneath Sasori's feet, threatening to impale him.

But Sasori, with an elegant twist, evaded yet again. "Wood Style, hmm? How troublesome." He flicked his wrist again, countering Kakashi's incoming fireball with another shot of water. But his maneuver left an opening.

"Gotcha!" Kankuro's puppet shot out from behind cover, launching a barrage of shuriken aimed at Sasori's exposed side.

Sasori's face contorted in annoyance as he narrowly dodged the spinning projectiles. As he landed, a scroll mounted on his back disappeared in a puff of smoke. "You're persistent," he sneered. His arms extended once more, his movements almost too fast to track.

Sakura's eyes narrowed, and she surged forward. "I'm getting close," she declared. Her acid-coated fists clenched as she closed the distance, chakra surging through them.

Sasori sneered and unleashed a rapid barrage of senbon needles laced with his lethal poison. But to his surprise, the moment they touched Sakura's acid armor, they dissolved into nothing. "Hmph. So, you're not as fragile as you look," he said, taking to the air with the assistance of the mechanism on his back that allowed him to fly.

Sakura's fist met empty air, and she skidded to a stop, glaring at him. "Running already?" she taunted.

Sasori extended both arms again, firing several cylindrical canisters that landed in a rough semicircle around the team. With a sharp hiss, the canisters exploded, releasing a thick, purple toxic gas that began to spread rapidly.

Temari's eyes widened. "Poison!" She swung her fan with a powerful arc. "Get back!" Her wind jutsu whipped through the air, dispersing the deadly fumes before they could settle.

Kakashi pulled back with a nod of thanks. "Nice work, Temari. But we're not done yet." He turned his gaze back to Sasori, who was already preparing his next move.

Sakura wiped the sweat from her brow. "We're not letting you get away this time," she said, determination burning in her eyes.

Sasori simply chuckled. "You're still too slow," he taunted. "Let's see how long you can keep up."

The air hung thick with tension as Sasori extended his arm once more, his fingers curling around an aged scroll marked with intricate patterns. With a subtle flick of his wrist, the scroll unfurled, releasing a puff of smoke that coiled ominously in the air. In its place, a large metallic canister appeared, landing into the loading mechanism built into Sasori's arm. The team instinctively tensed, their eyes narrowing at the unknown threat.

Sasori's lips curled into a smirk. "It's been a while since I last used this technique," he said with a hint of nostalgia. "Since the Third Shinobi War, in fact."

Without hesitation, he activated the firing mechanism, launching the canister high into the air with a resounding clunk. It spiraled toward them with deadly precision.

Sakura's eyes hardened. "Stay back!" she barked at her teammates, bringing her hands together in a sharp seal. Her chest expanded, and with a controlled exhale, she called out—

[Sage Art: Venom Cutter]

A stream of searing green acid jetted from her mouth, slicing through the air like a blade. It struck the canister head-on, melting through its metal casing with an audible sizzle. The canister ruptured in midair, sending a cloud of fine white powder cascading down over the battlefield.

Kankuro coughed, waving his hand in front of his face. "What the hell is this stuff? Poison?" He glanced around cautiously.

Kakashi scanned the particles, his voice calm but wary. "It's not toxic… I'm fine."

Sakura, however, stared at her hands, her face contorted in confusion. The once-glowing sheen of her acid armor—her primary Sage Mode defense—was now dull and inert. She flexed her fingers, baffled. "What the...?"

Sasori chuckled darkly. "Your so-called armor emulates the properties of a corrosive acid, doesn't it?" His eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "So, what better way to counter it than with a base?"

Kankuro blinked, completely lost. "A base?"

Sasori's smirk widened. "A commonly used one, actually. An ingredient you probably have in your kitchen. You might know it as…" His voice took on an almost mocking tone.

"... baking soda."

The battlefield fell silent. Sakura stood there, covered head to toe in a thin layer of the white powder, an incredulous look plastered on her face. "Holy mother of asspulls..."

Temari's jaw dropped in utter disbelief. "Are you telling me..." she struggled to form the words, rubbing her temples. "You're seriously walking around with a baking soda scroll? At all times?"

Sasori shrugged, unfazed. "A true artist is always prepared."

Sakura coughed, sending a puff of white powder from her mouth. She turned to Kakashi, deadpan. "I'm covered in baking soda."

Kakashi, ever the tactician, remained composed. "You still have your Sage abilities. Stay focused."

Sakura's eye twitched. "Kakashi-sensei. I'm covered in baking soda."

"So?" Temari said, her tone rising with hope as she turned to face Sakura. "You're a Perfect Sage, there's no way something as mundane as freaking baking soda can just... trivialize you that easily, right? Right?"

Sakura shrunk under Temari's gaze.

"You have to be kidding me..." Temari sighed, facepalming.

"Don't want to cause alarm but..." Sakura said, chuckling nervously. "... we might be cooked here."

Kankuro, sensing the ridiculousness of the situation, cursed audibly. "Hey what gives, Sasori! You got a scroll for the Kakashi-killer-jutsu too? Maybe one with the Temari Terminator 5000?"

Temari shot him a glare, but Sasori simply chuckled. "Funny you should say that."

Without another word, he extended his arm once more, retrieving another scroll with an eerily calm expression. He unfurled it and released another burst of smoke.

Kankuro's face went pale. "No way…"

Temari's fists clenched, her shoulders trembling with restrained fury. "You... heartless monster."

As the smoke dissipated, standing before them was a pristine puppet—crafted in the likeness of none other than Gaara.

Every detail was immaculate, from the sandy red hair to the carefully sculpted kanji for "love" etched onto its forehead. Its lifeless glassy eyes bore into them with an empty gaze, sending a chill down Kankuro's spine.

Sasori admired his creation with a quiet sense of pride. "I must say… this is my finest work yet." His gaze lingered on the puppet as if assessing a beloved masterpiece. "I didn't expect to use it this soon, but I suppose this is the best way to iron out any imperfections."

Kankuro's hands balled into fists. "You bastard…!" His voice trembled with rage.

Temari's eyes burned with raw emotion. "You're going to regret this, Sasori," she growled.

Sasori gestured toward the puppet, his voice dripping with mockery. "Come now, let's see if you can face your dear brother."

Deidara soared through the evening sky on his clay bird, a satisfied grin stretching across his face as the wind whipped through his hair. He looked back over his shoulder, the darkened forest below stretching endlessly. No sign of pursuit.

"Heh... those Konoha fools aren't so tough after all, hm," he muttered smugly, patting the side of the bird. "Art saves the day again!"

Nestled within the bird's hollow belly was none other than the unconscious Naruto Uzumaki. Deidara smirked, his pride swelling. "Tch, the boss'll be pleased with this haul. Not that he'd appreciate the artistry of my work, hm."

Just as he was about to muse further, a voice cut through the night air.

[Chidori]

Deidara's eyes widened in alarm. "What the—?!"

Before he could react, a flash of lightning surged from the tree canopy below. Sasuke Uchiha shot upwards, his hand crackling with electric fury. Deidara instinctively veered the bird to the side, but he wasn't fast enough. The lightning blade grazed his face, slicing across his left eye.

"ARGH!" Deidara howled in pain, clutching his wounded eye. "My damn eye, hm!"

Before he could even process the attack, another voice rang out, full of youthful vigor.

"DYNAMIC ENTRY!"

Deidara barely had time to curse before Rock Lee, burning with the power of the Fifth Gate, exploded from the canopy below.

"Oh, come on!" Deidara snarled, but it was too late.

Lee's kick connected squarely with Deidara's chest, sending him flying off his clay bird in a spinning blur. He tumbled through the air, plummeting rapidly toward the forest below. His curses echoed through the trees.

"I swear on my art, I'll make you bastards pay!" Deidara yelled as he crashed into the dense foliage below with a heavy thud.

Meanwhile, up above, Lee gracefully landed on the bird, fists clenched. "Sasuke! We did it!"

Sasuke, standing on the still-floating clay bird, nodded with a smirk. "Yeah, but we're not done yet."

With practiced precision, he drew his sword, channeling lightning chakra through it. The blade crackled with energy as he slashed through the clay bird's thick exterior. The bird shuddered before splitting open, revealing Naruto's motionless body inside.

Lee's face darkened with concern. "Naruto!" He leapt forward and gently lifted Naruto onto his shoulder, checking his pulse. "He's breathing! He's alive!"

Sasuke let out a small sigh of relief, quickly forming a hand seal.

[Summoning Jutsu]

A large serpent materialized beneath them, coiling its massive body in the air to catch their fall. The clay bird, now gutted and useless, spiraled toward the ground in a heap.

The snake hissed as it cushioned their landing in the forest. Sasuke patted its scales. "Thanks."

The snake gave a lazy flick of its tongue before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Sasuke tapped his earpiece. "Kakashi, we have him. Naruto's safe."

Kakashi's voice crackled through the device. "Good. Get to the extraction point. No more engagements, understood?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Understood." He turned to Lee. "Let's go. We need to move before that lunatic digs himself out of whatever hole he landed in."

Lee nodded seriously. "Right!" He adjusted Naruto's weight and leapt into motion, following Sasuke through the forest.

Meanwhile, back in the dense undergrowth, Deidara groaned, pulling himself up from a pile of broken branches and leaves. He wiped the blood from his face, his vision now half-blurred. He growled in frustration, slamming his fist into the ground.

"First my art, and now my eye?! Damn you, Sasuke, hm!" He took a shaky breath, rage simmering beneath the surface. "This isn't over. I'll show you what true art is... and it'll be your last masterpiece, hm!"

His rant was interrupted by the distant sound of Lee and Sasuke moving away. Gritting his teeth, he reached into his pouch, pulling out another lump of explosive clay.

"...Next time. Next time, hm."

Kakashi stood at the forefront, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the grim situation before them. Sakura, still covered in a layer of baking soda, gritted her teeth in frustration. Temari and Kankuro stood beside her, their expressions dark with fury as they faced the twisted mockery of their brother—Gaara's lifeless body now nothing more than a puppet under Sasori's control.

Sakura clenched her fists. "If we work together, we can take him down." Her voice was steely, determined.

Temari's breathing quickened, her grip on her giant fan trembling. The sight of Gaara's hollow eyes, his once vibrant presence now reduced to wood and chakra threads, was too much to bear. Her heart ached, but her rage burned hotter.

Kankuro noticed. "Temari," he said, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Focus. We're getting him back. I promise."

Temari swallowed hard, nodding. "Right."

Sasori, hovering in the air with his crimson cloak billowing, clicked his tongue. "How touching," he mused. "But you'll have much more to worry about than your family drama."

With a flick of his wrist, he unsealed a scroll and unfurled it onto the ground. "You should consider yourselves honored," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. "This technique once brought an entire nation to its knees."

A massive puff of smoke erupted, and when it cleared, a hundred puppets stood in rigid formation, hovering around Sasori. The eerie creak of their joints echoed through the air as Sasori's chest compartment slid open, releasing countless chakra strings that latched onto each of his wooden soldiers.

Kakashi's expression darkened. "Tch… This isn't good." He turned to his team. "Ideas?"

Temari stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "I can take them out," she said, adjusting the grip on her fan. "But I'll need time and space."

Sakura nodded immediately. "Got it." She formed a quick sequence of hand seals and clasped her hands together.

Kankuro stiffened as he realized what was about to happen. "Wait, hold on a sec—"

[Sage Art: Acid Breath]

A thick, greenish mist spewed from Sakura's lips, rapidly expanding into a corrosive barrier between them and Sasori's horde. The ground sizzled where it hovered above, hissing ominously.

Kankuro groaned as he yanked his half-destroyed puppet away from the acid cloud. "Sakura, seriously?! My puppet!"

"My bad!" Sakura winced as the acid melted through what was left of it. "I'll pay you back later!"

Sasori merely smirked and gestured forward. Five of his puppets darted straight for them, charging straight at the acid cloud without slowing down.

Sakura locked her blackened eyes on the advancing puppets, confident her Sage-infused venom would reduce them to slag before they even came close.

"That's far enough," she muttered, focusing her energy.

But then… they didn't stop.

"What?!" Sakura gasped as the puppets plunged into the acid cloud—and kept moving. They cut through the corrosive mist unscathed, their polished exteriors gleaming as they emerged, untouched and unyielding.

Her mind raced as the puppets closed the gap, slicing through the acid like it wasn't even there. This doesn't make sense! How can they be immune?!

She barely managed to dodge a sword swipe aimed at her head, the blade grazing her forehead. Blood trickled down her temple as she retaliated with a sharp back kick, smashing the puppet into pieces. She jumped back, her breath ragged, only to find another puppet lunging toward her.

She grabbed it by the head, using its momentum to hurl it into two more, sending them crashing apart in a heap of splinters.

Meanwhile, Temari fought off several puppets at close range, her movements rougher than usual. Her fan was too large for such proximity, and she struggled to keep the relentless wooden warriors at bay. "Damn it!" she cursed, knocking one away with a swing from her folded fan. "Should've trained more for this!"

Out of the corner of her eye, a blur of silver appeared.

[Lightning Style: Lightning Cable]

Kakashi and his shadow clone dashed past her, a crackling line of lightning stretched between them. As they ran, the cable sliced through several puppets in one swift motion, severing limbs and torsos alike. The older shinobi landed beside Temari, panting. "I'm running low on chakra," he muttered.

Temari nodded. "Thanks. I'll finish it now."

She bit her thumb and smeared the blood across her fan.

[Summoning Jutsu]

Elsewhere, Kankuro fought side by side with Sakura. He punched a puppet away, reaching for the broken arm of another to smack a third into the ground. Another lunged at him from behind, but Sakura intercepted with a flying kick, shattering it to pieces.

"I got your back!" she grinned.

Kankuro smirked. "Good. You owe me a puppet, though."

Sasori's voice echoed mockingly through the chaos. "You seem surprised your acid is ineffective, did you really think I wouldn't account for your little trick, Haruno Sakura?" His puppets moved with eerie precision, lunging straight at Sakura. "I coated all of them in baking soda earlier. They're completely resistant to your acid."

Sakura's jaw tightened as she rolled to the side, avoiding a puppet that dove straight at her position like a missile. "Fine," she growled, cracking her knuckles. "But they're not resistant to my fists!"

With a battle cry, she charged forward, fists smashing through puppet after puppet as they swarmed her.

Sasori watched with an amused grin. "Let's see how long you last."

He observed with calculated satisfaction as Sakura Haruno approached him, her forehead slick with blood that trickled down the side of her face. His eyes gleamed behind the mask of his puppet body. It's only a matter of time before the poison starts working. He could already see the slight tremble in her fingers, the slowing of her movements, the inevitable creep of paralysis. But he knew better than to let his guard down—Sakura was a tenacious one.

Without a moment's hesitation, Sasori commanded his Gaara puppet, sand rising and coiling around him. With a flick of his fingers, several tendrils of dense sand shot forward, aiming to ensnare and crush his opponent.

Sakura's hands blurred through seals, her voice ringing clear despite her ragged breathing.

[Sage Art: Acid Breath]

A toxic cloud erupted from her lips, emerald green and sizzling as it made contact with the sand tendrils. The sand hissed and melted away, leaving a gaping hole in Sasori's offense.

Sakura lunged through the gap, fist cocked and eyes blazing with determination.

THWACK!

Before she could react, a thick tendril of sand lashed out and struck Sakura squarely in the chest, sending her crashing into the ground with a harsh grunt. Dust exploded around her as she skidded backward, clutching her ribs.

"Pathetic," Sasori muttered, flexing his fingers, preparing another strike.

From the side, Kankuro sprang into action, flinging several shuriken toward Sasori. They whistled through the air, but with a flick of his wrist, Sasori raised a sand wall, absorbing the projectiles with ease. With another swift motion, a sand tendril shot out and swatted Kankuro aside like an insect, sending him tumbling.

Sasori turned his attention back to Sakura—but his eyes narrowed in surprise. She was still moving. Despite the cut, despite the poison, she was forming hand seals.

[Sage Art: Venom Cutter]

A pressurized jet of acid shot from Sakura's mouth, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Sasori dodged with a swift leap, barely avoiding the corrosive stream as it sliced cleanly through a nearby rock, melting it into nothing. His eyes darkened in realization.

"You were infected my poison... how?" Sasori muttered, his voice choked with disbelief.

Sakura smirked, standing shakily but proud. "Your poison was completely neutralized by my acid cloud when your weapons passed through it earlier," she explained, wiping her forehead. "Guess you should've considered using a liquid venom as the foundation instead of a solid toxin." She stood taller, allowing a smug grin to spread across her lips. "Or maybe even a base. I heard baking soda does wonders, you know."

Sasori's lips curled in irritation beneath his mask. "Insolent girl..."

Kakashi, observing the exchange, stepped forward cautiously. "You shouldn't count us out just yet, Sasori," he said evenly, sharing a glance with his teammates. "We've got more surprises for you."

Sasori scoffed, his puppet strings dancing in the air. "What trick could you possibly have left, Kakashi?" he sneered. "Your father earned his fame by killing the Second Kazekage. It's a shame his son can't replicate such a legacy."

Kakashi clenched his fists at the jab, but before he could retort—

[Ninja Art: Kamaitachi]

A fierce voice cut through the battlefield.

From a distance, Temari stood tall, her fan wide open. With a powerful swing, she unleashed a monstrous gust of wind, and in its wake, her weasel summon, Kamatari, surged forward with blinding speed.

The whirlwind howled, carrying the sharp edge of countless wind blades.

Sasori barely had time to react. His puppets—the 100 warriors he had gained fame for harnessing—were instantly caught in the devastating storm.

Shrrrrrkkk!

Wood shattered. Limbs splintered. Puppets were torn to shreds, their intricate mechanisms reduced to nothing but flying debris.

Sasori's expression flickered with shock as he staggered back, pieces of his treasured puppets raining down around him.

"Impossible..." he whispered, his eyes wide.

Temari stood at a distance, smirking as she rested her fan on her shoulder. "You were so focused on them, you forgot to look around," she called out smugly. "Big mistake, puppet master."

Sasori's grip on his remaining puppet strings tightened. He gritted his teeth, fury boiling beneath his carefully composed facade. This fight was far from over.

Amidst the chaos of the battlefield, Kankuro's heart pounded against his ribs as he stared down the grotesque marionette standing before him—the twisted, hollow shell of his little brother, Gaara. Sasori controlled the puppet with eerie grace, its expressionless jade eyes reflecting no soul, no warmth—just a haunting emptiness that made Kankuro's stomach churn.

Temari stood beside him, her knuckles white as she gripped her iron fan, her chest rising and falling with deep, steady breaths. In the distance, Sakura danced through the carnage with profound strength, her Sage Mode amplifying every strike as she engaged Sasori's assault head-on. Kakashi weaved through the battlefield with sharp precision, his movements erratic as he evaded the Gaara puppet's sand tendrils.

But Kankuro barely saw any of that. His eyes were fixed on the puppet—on Gaara.

The puppet moved with an eerie grace, streams of sand swirling from its gourd-like back, forming sharp tendrils that lashed out at Kankuro, who barely dodged each assault. Sweat dripped down his brow as he rolled, vaulted, and twisted, narrowly evading the very techniques that once belonged to his late brother. The sight of the puppet, so lifelike yet devoid of Gaara's soul, gnawed at his heart. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the meticulously crafted face—Gaara's face, now nothing more than a husk under Sasori's control.

Kankuro skidded to a halt, panting, and glanced at the puppet with a sad smile. "You saw that, right, Gaara? Temari's pretty amazing, huh? She wrecked all those puppets in a single move." His voice cracked slightly, but he masked it with a chuckle. "That's why she's Jonin now. Would've thought you'd be the first, right?"

[Wind Style: Thousand Razor Storm]

Temari, her hair whipping in the wind, swung her fan once more, sending a barrage of slicing currents at Sasori, forcing him to reposition. As she leaped back beside Kankuro, her gaze flickered to the puppet—her brother. Her grip on the fan tightened, but her voice softened. "Kankuro... he can't hear you."

Kankuro swallowed hard. "I know. I know, okay? But... it feels like he's still here, you know?" He looked at the puppet's lifeless eyes and continued, his voice a mix of fondness and pain. "Gaara, I wish you could see how much things have changed... how much we have changed."

Sakura slammed her fist into the sand wall that the Gaara puppet had erected, shattering it effortlessly. She turned briefly to look at them, her eyes filled with understanding but also urgency. "We can talk later! Focus!"

Temari nodded but couldn't help but glance at Kankuro as he kept dodging the puppet's relentless attacks. "We've been doing our best, Gaara," she murmured, side-stepping a group of sand spikes that shot up from beneath her. "It's been hard without you. It's weird, even. You were always so strong, trying to hold on despite everything and now..." She hesitated, her eyes glistening. "Now, it's just us."

Kankuro chuckled dryly, swiping his forehead with the back of his wrist, smearing sand and sweat. "Yeah... They made you a weapon, Gaara. A monster. They never let you be a kid, did they?" His fists clenched. "And we didn't help, did we? All those years..."

The puppet didn't react, but Kankuro could still see his brother's face in its features—the face of the boy who never knew what love felt like until it was too late. The boy who died being told he was worth something, only after a lifetime of being told otherwise.

Kankuro felt his eyes sting, but he didn't stop talking. "We're sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "For everything. For not being there for you when you needed us. For being scared of you instead of helping you. For letting you go through that hell alone."

Temari's breath hitched, her hands trembling against her fan. "I should've done more," she confessed. "I should've fought harder to show you that you were more than just Shukaku's vessel. You were our brother first... and I failed you, Gaara. We both did."

Sasori pulled at his chakra threads, sending the Gaara puppet forward.

[Sand Coffin]

Kankuro's eyes widened, but Kakashi leapt forward, grabbing him before the Sand Coffin could claim him.

[Sage Art: Venom Cutter]

Sakura's Venom Cutter shit forward, slicing an incoming hand made of sand in half before it could grab Kakashi and Kankuro.

Kankuro clenched his fists, swallowing hard. "You had it rough, Gaara. Ever since you were a kid, everyone treated you like a damn monster. I—" His voice caught, and he let out a dry, bitter laugh. "I'm sorry. For all those years we... kept our distance. For not understanding you sooner."

Kakashi's voice cut through the moment, urgent but understanding. "We can't get distracted! That thing isn't him!"

Temari barely heard him. She took a deep breath, staring at the puppet, feeling the weight of Gaara's legacy on her shoulders. Her grip on her fan tightened. "That's why," she said, her voice filled with unwavering resolve. "That's why I'm going to become Kazekage."

Kankuro blinked in surprise, but Temari's eyes remained locked on the Gaara puppet. "Not just to protect Suna, but to make sure no one else has to live the life you did, Gaara. No one else will be used as an instrument of fear... discarded, and forgotten when their value has worn out. I swear it."

She lunged forward, her fan snapping open with a thunderous crack.

[Wind Style: Wind Cyclone Jutsu]

A cyclone of wind shot forward, tearing through Sasori's sand wall and forcing him back.

"I won't let them turn anyone else into what they turned you into," Temari continued, her voice rising above the storm. "No one should feel as alone as you did. And I swear—" She swung her fan again, taking out an incoming sand tendril "—I'll make sure your memory lives on, not as a weapon, but as the boy who served our village. As my little brother."

Kankuro grinned through the pain, his arms aching from the fight. "You hear that, Gaara? She's gonna make you proud, just you wait."

Sakura, hearing their words even in the heat of battle, felt a lump rise in her throat. She could see the raw emotion in their eyes, the unspoken grief weighing them down. Yet, in that grief, there was strength—a determination to honor their fallen brother.

Sasori, who had been silently listening, finally spoke, his voice devoid of emotion. "Touching sentiment. But you're mistaken. This puppet, your brother... he was a weapon. That's all he was ever meant to be. Just like all of us shinobi."

Kankuro's eyes burned with resolve. "Then I'll just have to show you what Gaara really stood for."

He dashed forward, fists clenched. "Come on, Gaara!" he shouted as if calling out to the brother he once knew. "One last fight with us!"

"Slow down Kankuro!" Sakura called out, placing her hands together in a seal.

[Wood Style: Earth Thorn Jutsu]

The Gaara puppet stood, lifeless but terrifyingly formidable, sand rising before him to form a formidable shield that stopped Sakura's wooden thorns from harming it's puppeteer.

Sasori, sensing the battle turning against him, clicked his tongue in irritation. "Pathetic. Attachment is a weakness you can't afford in battle."

Temari stepped forward, fanning away the debris from Sakura's attack. Her expression was resolute. "It's not a weakness," she said, lifting her fan again. "It's what makes us human. And that's something you'll never understand, Sasori."

Sasori narrowed his eyes from within his protective dome of hardened sand, his fingers twitching in annoyance. Sakura's raw strength and Kakashi and Temari's relentless assaults were proving to be more than just a nuisance. He watched as Kakashi inhaled sharply, his hands forming rapid seals.

[Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu]

Kakashi's voice rang out, his chest expanding before a massive sphere of searing flame erupted from his mouth.

Beside him, Temari swung her fan with a fierce cry.

[Wind Style: Howling Tempest]

The gust roared forward, merging seamlessly with Kakashi's fireball, feeding the flames until they swelled into a scorching inferno. The combined jutsu hurtled toward Sasori's sand shield, its heat so intense that the surrounding air shimmered.

The moment the fiery blast connected, the entire sand dome glowed red-hot, crackling ominously. Then—crack. The once-impenetrable shield had turned to brittle glass. A fine network of fractures spider-webbed across its surface, and before Sasori could react, a thunderous voice rang out.

With a fierce roar, Sakura lunged forward.

"SHANAROOO!"

Her chakra-enhanced fist smashed through the fragile glass wall, sending shards flying in every direction. Sasori's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but his reaction was instant. His fingers twitched, and a burst of pressurized water shot from his hand, striking Sakura dead center and sending her skidding back across the battlefield.

As she tumbled, Kankuro seized the opening. With sharp precision, he hurled a barrage of chakra-infused shuriken, aiming them not directly at Sasori—but just behind him.

Sasori smirked as he dodged the projectiles, weaving effortlessly between them. "Sloppy, Kankuro. Do you truly think I'd fall for—?" He stopped mid-thought.

His Gaara puppet, positioned defensively behind him, suddenly refused to move. Sasori's fingers twitched again, but the puppet stood lifeless. His eyes flickered with realization—his chakra threads had been severed.

His gaze snapped toward Kankuro, who stood in the distance with a triumphant smirk. "You aimed for the puppet's threads," Sasori muttered darkly, his voice laced with both irritation and reluctant respect.

"Too bad, Sasori." Kankuro's voice carried across the battlefield. "I grew up watching you. I know how you think."

"Then you should know—" Sasori's voice darkened as he flicked his fingers toward the frozen Gaara puppet. "—you're still a step behind."

But before Sasori could react, Temari's fan snapped upward, her hair billowing wildly in the windstorm she summoned. With a grunt, she lifted the Gaara puppet in the vortex of wind.

"This is my chance!" Temari gritted her teeth, determination burning in her eyes. "I swear, Gaara… I'll make you proud."

The wind spiraled faster and faster, lifting the now-useless Gaara puppet higher and higher. The remnants of its cracked, worn-out sand shell were stripped away by the howling winds.

With one final, deliberate motion, Temari brought her fan down in a dramatic arc.

[Tornado Drop]

The vortex, now a whirling tempest of debris and cutting wind, crashed down with staggering force. The Gaara puppet was obliterated upon impact, reduced to splinters and dust that scattered across the battlefield.

The ground trembled from the sheer force of the attack. Sasori, caught in the turbulence, spiraled through the air, his damaged wing crackling and flickering as it failed to stabilize him. He crashed into the earth with a heavy thud, his form cracked and splattered with dust.

From the ground, he rose slowly, his eyes dark with malice. A sinister chuckle escaped his lips as he brushed himself off. "Tch... impressive." His gaze flickered between them, his tone laced with venom. "But it's not over ye—"

The audible crunch of sand beneath footwear cut Sasori off, grabbing his attention. The puppeteer whipped around at the noise, his eyes widening with shock at the figure in his sight.

"Sakura..."

The medic stood her ground, blood trickling from a cut above her brow, her breath ragged but unwavering. Her eyes burned with a mix of emotions—rage, determination.

But above all else, frustration.

She'd had enough of his games.

Clenching her fists, she shot forward with explosive speed, weaving through a barrage of poisoned senbon that sliced through the air with lethal precision.

"You're wide open!" she snarled, barely sidestepping Sasori's water cutter as it tore past her. Several strands of her hair drifted to the ground like silent witnesses to her near-miss with death, but Sakura paid them no attention.

All her of her focus was on one man.

With a determined cry, Sakura sprinted towards the puppeteer, fighting through the exhaustion weighing down on her muscles.

"Persistent girl," Sasori noted as he watched his opponent home in on him like a pink guided-missile. He extended his other arm, unleashing a torrent of flame towards her from his open palm.

Sakura's heart pounded as the flames roared towards her, the heat warming her skin even from a distance. but a familiar voice cut through her worry.

"I got you!" Temari cried, her fan already raised

[Ninja Art: Sandstorm Jutsu]

Temari swung her fan, the rushing, natural wind and sand from her jutsu doing just enough to suppress Sasori's encroaching flames. Sakura seized the opportunity, ducking beneath maneuvering around the fire and running straight at Sasori.

"No!" Sasori growled, lunging at her with a blade embedded in his arm.

Sakura hit the dirt, sliding underneath his effort and popping up behind him. Sasori's arms flailed as she wrapped her arms around his torso from behind.

"You're done!" Sakura said, holding fast despite Sasori's efforts to break free.

With a guttural roar, she hoisted him off the ground, muscles screaming as she lifted his entire puppet form onto her shoulders in a show of raw power.

Sasori's voice crackled in protest. "What are you—"

"GREEN THUNDERRRRR!" Sakura shouted, twisting her entire body in a whirling motion.

The world spun around them as she executed a flawless 270 degree rotation, chakra surging through her limbs. Sasori's body whipped through the air like a ragdoll, his arms flailing as the motion disoriented his systems, sending sparks flying from his joints.

Sakura suddenly brought the rotation to a screeching halt—but Sasori still regained his momentum. In a fluid motion, Sakura used this against him, guiding his wooden form until both his legs rested on her shoulder, her hands firm on his stomach.

With a fierce cry, she drove him down with all her might.

Sasori's eyes widened. "No! you can't—"

"POWERBOMB!"

The impact was catastrophic. Sasori's puppet body slammed into the ground with a deafening explosion of force, sending a shockwave radiating outward in a circle of destruction. The earth beneath him crumbled, deep cracks spider-webbing across the terrain as debris shot into the air. A cloud of dust and splinters engulfed them both, the sheer power of the slam sending a resonating BOOM! throughout the landscape.

Sakura stood over Sasori's mangled wreck, panting hard, her fists still clenched and ready for more. "Not bad, huh?" she muttered under her breath, a smirk gracing her features.

Sakura panted heavily, her hands trembling as they pressed against her knees. Her body was exhausted, her muscles aching from exertion. Sweat dripped from her brow, mingling with the blood and dust that clung to her skin. She stared down at Sasori's shattered puppet body—splintered wood, broken metal, and shattered dreams scattered across the battlefield. Her Sage Mode flickered weakly before fading completely, leaving her drained and gasping for breath.

She dropped to her hands and knees, chest heaving. "It's... it's over," she whispered, but her relief was short-lived.

"Sakura, look out!" Kakashi's urgent warning snapped through the air, pulling her from her momentary reprieve.

Sakura's head jerked downward, eyes widening in horror. Sasori's heart scroll—tattered, but still pulsing with life—slithered like a serpent across the dirt, inching toward its ruined body. The sight of it sent shivers down her spine.

"No way..."

Before she could react, Kankuro surged forward, his face twisted with fierce determination.

"Haaaaah!"

With a guttural roar, he drove his kunai straight into the writhing heart. The blade punctured it cleanly, and for a moment, it pulsed violently—before going still, lifeless. A final, hollow rattle escaped the remains of Sasori's body, and then... silence.

Sakura exhaled a shaky breath, staring at Kankuro in stunned silence. Kakashi, equally spent and low on chakra, straightened himself with visible effort. He looked at Kankuro with an approving nod.

"Good work," Kakashi said, his voice rough but steady.

Kankuro didn't respond immediately. He stared down at the crushed heart, his fingers tightening around the kunai's handle. His lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes dark with unresolved emotions. Temari approached him slowly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"It's done," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of shared grief. "You did what needed to be done."

Kankuro took a deep breath and nodded, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Yeah… I just… nevermind." His voice cracked slightly, but he quickly composed himself.

Sakura pushed herself up onto her feet, wincing slightly. "We all did our part," she said, offering a small but understanding smile. "This... this wasn't easy for any of us."

Nearby, Temari knelt down and carefully gathered the remains of Sasori's puppet—the Gaara puppet. She cradled the fragmented pieces in her arms, brushing her thumb over the intricate details that once belonged to her brother's likeness. Kankuro joined her, his expression somber as he picked up another fragment.

Sakura watched them silently, understanding their pain.

"It's not him," Kankuro murmured, his voice strained. "But... it's the least we can do. We'll give him a proper burial, even if it's just this."

Sakura swallowed a lump in her throat. She knew that feeling well—the need to honor the fallen, even in ways that seemed small and symbolic. "I think he'd appreciate that," she said quietly. "It's a way to remember him..."

Temari smiled weakly. "Yeah... it is."

Kakashi's voice brought them all back to the present. "We don't have time to linger," he said, his visible eye sharp and alert. "I just received a report from Sasuke—he and Lee have recovered Naruto. They managed to ambush Deidara successfully."

Relief flooded Sakura's face, and she nearly collapsed again in gratitude. "Thank goodness," she whispered, placing a hand over her heart. "We did it..."

Kankuro let out a heavy sigh of relief as well. "So that's one Akatsuki down, and one captured Jinchuriki recovered."

Temari nodded firmly. "Then we need to keep moving. The others might need us."

Kakashi turned to face the Suna siblings, his tone sincere. "Thank you. You didn't just help us recover Naruto, you've proven that the alliance between Konoha and Suna is stronger than ever."

Kankuro scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "It was our duty. And... it's personal too. We're not about to let the Akatsuki get away with what they did to our village."

Temari smirked, her fan resting against her shoulder. "Besides, we couldn't let you Konoha shinobi take all the glory."

Kakashi chuckled, despite his exhaustion. "We're glad to have you on our side."

He adjusted his forehead protector and gave a quick signal. "Let's go. We haven't established contact with the second group in a while. They might be held up."

Sakura nodded, determination returning to her weary eyes. "Team 8 and Kurenai... I hope they're okay."

As they took off across the rugged terrain, moving swiftly toward the distant river where Kurenai and the others were stationed, Sakura's mind wandered. She felt the fatigue settling into her bones, but something stronger pushed her forward.

Hinata... please be okay.

She glanced toward the horizon, worry gnawing at her insides. As much as she trusted Hinata's strength, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Hinata lay on the surface of the water, her breaths shallow, her trembling hand pressed to the wound on her side. Blood seeped between her fingers, but the pain was distant compared to the whirlwind of fear and confusion gripping her mind. Kisame's words echoed in her head like a cursed mantra.

"You're special, aren't you? You're not like the others."

She blinked up at him, her eyes wide and unsteady. His narrowed gaze bore into her as if he were trying to unravel a secret hidden deep within her very soul.

"I..." Hinata stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't understand..."

Kisame smirked, though the fear in his eyes betrayed the bravado. "Oh, I think you do," he said, his voice a low growl as his fingers tightened around Samehada. "You don't even know what you are, do you?"

Before Hinata could muster the strength to reply, a sharp voice sliced through the moment like a blade.

[Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion Paralysis]

Kurenai's hands moved fluidly through the seals, her crimson eyes gleaming with fierce determination. Kisame's body locked up, his muscles seizing as the illusion took hold. His grin faltered for the briefest of moments before his body stilled entirely.

"Now!" Kurenai shouted.

Baki moved like a gale, his Wind Blade forming in an instant. With a snarl, he drove it forward, piercing Kisame's chest. The rogue ninja winced in pain, and for a moment, silence fell over the battlefield.

But then, Kisame chuckled—a low, menacing sound that sent chills down Hinata's spine. His body rippled unnaturally before dissolving into a cascade of water, the liquid splashing harmlessly around them.

Baki cursed under his breath, stepping back. "A water clone," he muttered, his voice tight with frustration.

Kurenai was already moving, dropping to her knees beside Hinata. Her hands were steady but urgent as she inspected the wound beneath her ward's flak vest. "It's shallow," Kurenai said, though her tone was sharp with worry. "You're lucky it wasn't deeper. Hinata, stay still."

"I-I'm fine," Hinata whispered, her voice shaking. "It's just... a flesh wound."

"Don't downplay it," Kurenai snapped, pulling a bandage from her pouch and wrapping it tightly around Hinata's torso. "We've already got Kiba down—"

"Speaking of," Shino's calm voice interrupted as he approached, supporting a limping Kiba. The Inuzuka groaned, his arm slung over Shino's shoulder. Akamaru followed close behind, whining softly as he nudged Kiba's leg.

"We're alive, aren't we?" Kiba quipped weakly, though his voice lacked its usual bravado. He winced, holding his ribs. "Barely, but still counts."

Kurenai exhaled heavily, a rare crack in her composed demeanor. "It's too close. We can't sustain another encounter like that. We're pulling back as soon as possible."

Nearby, Baki was speaking into his earpiece, his tone clipped. "Group 2 secured. Two casualties. Awaiting further instructions."

The sound of approaching footsteps drew everyone's attention. Kakashi emerged from the trees with Sakura, Sasuke, Temari, and Kankuro. Lee followed behind, carrying an unconscious Naruto over his shoulder.

"Hinata!" Sakura rushed forward, kneeling beside her. "Are you okay?"

Hinata nodded, her lips trembling. Her gaze flicked to Naruto, and her chest tightened. "N-Naruto... is he...?"

"He'll be fine," Sasuke assured her, his tone firm. "Sakura said his condition was artificially induced. Once we get him to the hospital, he'll be back on his feet."

Hinata exhaled in relief, her shoulders sagging. She watched as Kakashi and Baki exchanged updates, their voices low and serious. Around her, the team regrouped, tending to injuries and preparing to leave. Yet Hinata's mind was far from the present.

Kisame's words still rang in her ears. What are you?

She pressed her trembling hands together, trying to steady herself, but her thoughts spiraled. Memories surfaced unbidden, pulling her back to the night she turned thirteen.

She remembered the cold air against her skin, the way her breath hitched as she saw the strange woman standing in her room. Her features were hauntingly familiar, her presence overwhelming. Hinata had been frozen in place, unable to speak. The woman's eyes, so captivating yet so alien, bore into her.

Shizune had dismissed it as a hallucination. Asuma had suggested it was a genjutsu, a prank from Ino—who made sure to voice her annoyance to Hinata over the accusation. But the experience had never left her. It had haunted her dreams, her waking thoughts. Even now, she could feel the weight of that woman's gaze, the unspoken message lingering in the air.

Hinata clenched her fists. She had always known she was different—her childhood had been a testament to that fact. But Kisame's words had planted a new seed of doubt. What if there's more to it?

Her mind flashed back to the fight. Kisame's chakra-draining sword had felt like it was pulling at something deeper than her physical strength. What if he had seen something? What if, for that brief moment, he had glimpsed the truth that even she was afraid to confront?

"Hyuuga," Baki's voice snapped her back to the present. His gaze was stern. "Can you stand?"

Hinata nodded, pushing herself to her feet with Kurenai's help. She forced a small smile, though her heart still raced with unease.

"I'm fine," she said softly, though her words felt hollow.

As the group prepared to move, Hinata cast one last glance at the stream. The water rippled, the orange sunlight casting eerie patterns on its surface. Somewhere out there, Kisame was still lurking, his words a dark shadow in her mind.

And in the depths of her heart, Hinata couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen something she couldn't. Something she wasn't ready to face.