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It was Kabuto. He had come, guided by the Futodama mark on Sasuke. And with him came the elderly Chiyo.
Maki was aghast. "Lady Chiyo?! Why are you here…?!"
"This young man named Kabuto sought me out," Chiyo said, her voice dry as parchment. "To verify his claims, this old woman decided to come and see for herself."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. So this is Granny Chiyo. The one who fought alongside Sakura against Sasori…
Chiyo's gaze swept the clearing. It paused on Orochimaru, hardening. "Some familiar faces. You, who were named one of the Sannin by Hanzo… was it you who guided him to me?"
Orochimaru offered a slight, respectful bow. "That was Kabuto's own decision. Not my instruction."
She turned to Sasuke. "And you. You are the one who killed my grandson, Akasuna no Sasori."
Sasuke gave a single nod. "I am."
Chiyo looked away, her old shoulders seeming to carry an even greater weight. "I know the whole story. Sasori's sins were deep. His death was deserved. This old woman has come… to bring this tragedy to a proper close."
She walked straight to Gaara's lifeless form. Her eyes fell upon him, heavy. "He was chosen to be the jinchūriki… partly through my own doing. That it should end like this… was perhaps to be expected. And yet…"
She remembered. Days ago. When Shukaku ran wild. The sight of this boy, who had never known love, wrestling with the beast inside him… choosing to protect the village with his very will.
"This old woman truly never imagined… that a child raised without love… would in the end sacrifice himself for his village!"
Kabuto stepped forward. "Now that you have confirmed it… will you teach me the technique?"
Chiyo's sidelong glance was sharp. "Kabuto. You… are still hiding something from this old woman, aren't you?"
Kabuto stiffened. He adjusted his glasses, a nervous tic. "What… what do you mean?"
She didn't press. Her voice turned low, resigned. "In my long life, I have seen every shade of human loyalty and treachery. I flatter myself that I can read a person. For one's nature to change so drastically in a short time… a profound, hidden event must be the cause. Since you wish to conceal it, I will not pry. This old woman is at the end of her road. The only thing left she can do… is leave a tender shoot of hope for this shinobi world."
As her final words fell, Granny Chiyo formed a seal. A brilliant, azure life-energy enveloped her aged hands.
Kabuto's eyes widened in shock. "You… you intend to…?!"
Chiyo's voice was a low chant. "This is not for you. Not for anyone. This life… is a debt I owe him. I could have acted to stop the Akatsuki then. I stood by and watched him be taken. Therefore, this task falls to me. This… is karma."
Under the complex gazes of all present, Chiyo placed her hands over Gaara's chest. Pure life energy, vibrant and warm, poured from her into him.
—Forbidden Jutsu: One's Own Life Resurrection!
Kankurō stared. "Granny… what is she doing?"
Maki's face was solemn, reverent. "Lady Chiyo devoted herself to research on granting life to puppets… and succeeded. This technique… can even bring the dead back to life. The price, of course… is one's own life."
"Granny, you…"
"Kankurō," Chiyo said, her voice softening. "Don't make that face. This technique… I had saved it for when Sasori returned. To grant life to his first creations, "Father" and "Mother." But now… it seems I've found a worthier use. So, promise me. "Father" and "Mother"… you will be the one to inherit them. Give them a meaning that transcends life itself. That is the power all puppet masters hold… more important than chakra or skill. The power called… 'heart.'"
Kankurō choked back a sob. "I… how could I ever be worthy…?"
The flow of life energy continued. Gaara's stilled heart gave a faint, tentative beat. The light in Chiyo's eyes, however, began to dim, fading like a guttering candle.
"Kabuto… forgive this old woman. I cannot teach you this technique. No matter what happens… you are young. Your life has purpose. Do not speak lightly of throwing it away."
Kabuto felt the weight of it—a profound, soul-shaking heaviness. He had resolved to do this himself. And now… Granny Chiyo was doing it for him. With her life.
Since his heart had plunged into darkness… this was the first time he had felt the true weight of a shinobi's duty from someone other than the orphanage director, Orochimaru, or Sasuke.
He bowed deeply, from the waist. "Thank you… Lady Chiyo. I will remember your form… and your words."
"Sasori… recovered his true heart before he died. I, as his grandmother… heh… at the very end, I suppose I've finally done something meaningful. Though… it likely does nothing to make up for my inaction these past years."
Having completed her redemption, Chiyo closed her eyes for the last time in the presence of those few witnesses.
This time, there would be no Impure World Reincarnation. For those who have passed on having fulfilled their wishes… the greatest respect is to let them rest.
As for Gaara… perhaps when he awoke and returned to Sunagakure, what awaited him wouldn't be the cheers and acclaim of a past life. His path forward would still be paved with thorns.
But it was the path he himself had chosen. And he would not stop walking it.
They prepared Chiyo's body with respect. They arranged the unconscious Suigetsu and JĹ«go. They bound the captured White Zetsu clone tight with vines. Gathered around Kabuto, they were swallowed by the swirling vortex of Futodama and deposited outside Sunagakure.
Swish. Sasuke swept his white cloak back over his shoulder. "What needed to be done is done. We'll take our leave now."
Kankurō stood. "Hey… forgive me for my words along the way. And… thank you."
Sasuke paused. "No thanks are needed. I didn't do much…"
Temari held Gaara close. "No. We must thank you! If not for you… we might never have seen Gaara again."
Shink.
Sasuke slowly sheathed the Kusanagi blade. He spoke thoughtfully. "If… you truly wish to thank me… then help Gaara become a Kage who truly lives up to the title."
Watching Sasuke's white-clad back, Kankurō sighed. "That guy… he's changed quite a bit. But the one thing that hasn't changed… is how much he loves to look cool."
A faint, youthful blush touched Temari's cheeks. "If he weren't a rogue ninja… being the woman at his side… might not be so bad…"
Maki was even more moved. "We owe him a huge debt. As for them taking the Dragon Vein… I'll just pretend I never saw it."
Pale Moon Island. The spatial vortex churned and spat them out.
Back at last, after so many days. They had left as four. They returned with two extra… and one captive.
Sasuke spoke first. "I fed some future fragments to Suigetsu and JĹ«go. They won't wake for a while. But you seem to have brought back a 'problem.'"
Orochimaru's smile was thin. "This White Zetsu… has its uses."
Sasuke turned to Kabuto. His tone was flat, but held an edge. "Kabuto… next time you plan something like that, inform us first. We are a unit. We advance and retreat together."
Kabuto bowed his head. "Understood."
"Karin," Sasuke said, his voice shifting. "The strain on your eyes hasn't faded yet. Go rest."
"What about you, Sasuke?" Karin asked, concern in her voice.
A deep, calculating light glimmered in Sasuke's eyes. "Preparations for the third battle… begin now. No matter who the opponent is this time… the day I meet Itachi again… doesn't seem far off."
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