Hinata made one final burst of speed, barely preventing herself from being left behind.
The ANBU, however, could only watch as the three of them disappeared into the distance.
"Naruto! Calm down!"
Naruto didn't even look back.
"If we're even a second late, Gaara could lose his life!"
"I can't slow down!"
Seeing the determination etched across Naruto's face, Hinata understood his feelings perfectly.
She let out a soft sigh and turned to the exhausted ANBU behind them.
"We've already received all the intelligence we need."
"Naruto-kun isn't going to stop."
"If you can't keep up, you should rest for a while."
"Don't worry. Sasuke and I will catch up with him."
The ANBU looked toward Sasuke.
"Really?"
Sasuke remained silent, simply giving a firm nod.
The ANBU was completely out of breath and had no choice but to accept.
"...Alright."
"I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to us," Hinata replied.
Moments later, the three figures disappeared into the horizon.
Watching them leave, the ANBU couldn't help but sigh emotionally.
"What is happening with these kids...?"
"Each one is more incredible than the last."
"And that Nine-Tails Jinchūriki..."
"No..."
"Uzumaki Naruto."
---
The journey to the Hidden Sand Village, which normally required three days and three nights, was completed in less than a single day thanks to Naruto's incredible speed.
That was despite slowing down to keep pace with Hinata and Sasuke.
If he had traveled alone...
He probably could have arrived in less than half a day.
The moment they reached Sunagakure, Naruto didn't even stop to catch his breath.
He rushed straight toward the Kazekage's office.
"Gaara!"
"How is he?!"
Naruto burst through the office door.
Everyone inside immediately turned to look at him.
"Naruto?"
Deputy Kazekage Baki looked surprised but quickly recovered.
"Hokage-sama has already sent—"
Naruto cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"Forget that!"
"Just tell me!"
"How is Gaara?!"
Standing inside the office was a short elderly woman who carefully examined Naruto from head to toe.
"So this rude blond brat is the one they were talking about?"
Baki smiled bitterly.
"He is Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
"Uzumaki Naruto."
"And..."
"He is also one of Gaara's closest friends."
The old woman frowned slightly.
"Really?"
"A fellow Jinchūriki?"
"When did Gaara ever make friends?"
Naruto had already been irritated by her attitude.
Those words finally pushed him over the edge.
"Why can't a Jinchūriki have friends?!"
The old woman suddenly burst into laughter.
"What a fiery little brat."
"If you keep shouting like that, who would want to be your friend?"
Naruto clenched his fists.
He was already worried sick about Gaara, and now this old woman was only making him more frustrated.
Fortunately, Hinata and Sasuke arrived at that moment.
Hinata stepped forward politely.
"Kazekage-sama, we've come under Hokage-sama's orders to assist your village."
"Please share the latest intelligence."
The elderly woman looked Hinata up and down before nodding approvingly.
"Now this little girl is polite."
"Unlike that loud Nine-Tails brat."
Baki quickly introduced everyone.
"These three are members of Team 7."
"Uzumaki Naruto."
"Hyuga Hinata."
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"And this is one of the Hidden Sand Village's elders..."
"Grandmother Chiyo."
Chiyo raised an eyebrow.
"The Hyuga Clan..."
"And the Uchiha Clan..."
"Both are among Konoha's greatest noble clans."
Naruto finally realized that this was the elder the ANBU had mentioned earlier.
Although she seemed rather eccentric...
She clearly wasn't someone to underestimate.
Baki then explained the current situation.
"Kitsuchi from the Hidden Stone Village, Asuma, Might Guy, and the others have already begun pursuing the Akatsuki."
"They've left markers along the way, so following their trail shouldn't be difficult."
"However..."
"The Hidden Sand Village is currently facing both internal and external problems."
"We simply don't have enough manpower to organize a large-scale rescue mission."
"That's why we requested reinforcements from Konoha."
"Fortunately..."
"Grandmother Chiyo agreed to come out of retirement."
Naruto looked at her in surprise.
"This grumpy old lady?"
Chiyo laughed loudly.
"Aren't you just as unpleasant, brat?"
"Don't underestimate me."
"I fought against your Third Hokage."
"And your current Fifth Hokage..."
"Tsunade."
"She was once my rival."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata all stared at her in shock.
"Really?!"
Baki nodded seriously.
"Of course."
"Grandmother Chiyo is one of the village's greatest elders."
"She has witnessed the reigns of multiple Kazekage."
"She has also made enormous contributions during several Great Ninja Wars."
"You should never underestimate her."
Chiyo waved her hand impatiently.
"Enough, Baki."
"Stop flattering me."
"You youngsters spend too much time talking."
"When it's time to work..."
"You only make everyone worry."
Despite being the Acting Kazekage, Baki respectfully lowered his head.
"You're right, Grandmother Chiyo."
"Hmph."
"Since Konoha has sent reinforcements..."
"Even if they're only a few little brats..."
"We'll make do."
"Let's move."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata exchanged glances.
Although they weren't entirely pleased with her attitude...
Now wasn't the time to argue.
"Right!"
Just as they were about to leave...
Temari and Kankuro suddenly called out from behind them.
"Grandmother Chiyo!"
"Naruto!"
"Please..."
"You have to save Gaara!"
Seeing the worry and pain in their eyes, Naruto felt as though someone had driven a needle straight through his heart.
He nodded solemnly.
"I promise."
"Even if it costs me my life..."
"I'll bring Gaara back."
Grandmother Chiyo looked at him in surprise.
She could immediately tell...
He wasn't lying.
"This brat..."
"He's different from the others."
---
The group quickly departed.
Under Grandmother Chiyo's leadership, Team 7 sped toward the Akatsuki's trail.
Along the way, they easily followed the tracking marks left behind by Might Guy, Asuma, and the others.
However...
Nearly three days had already passed.
No one knew what condition Gaara was in.
Naruto became increasingly anxious.
Unable to restrain himself any longer, he accelerated and rushed ahead once more.
Grandmother Chiyo stared after him in disbelief.
"That brat..."
"He's unbelievably fast."
"What kind of power is that?"
Hinata smiled gently.
"Naruto-kun created a Wind Release Chakra Mode."
"It allows him to use wind chakra to enhance nearly every aspect of his body."
"Even without fully activating it, he can still use wind chakra to greatly increase his speed."
"As far as I know..."
"Other than the Raikage, who is famous as the fastest shinobi in the world..."
"I don't think anyone can match Naruto-kun's speed."
Grandmother Chiyo frowned.
"Wind Release Chakra Mode?"
"Someone actually developed such a technique?"
"Our Hidden Sand Village lies within the Land of Wind."
"We have some of the greatest Wind Release users among the Five Great Nations."
"Yet no one here has ever achieved something like that."
"Konoha truly is full of extraordinary people."
Hinata smiled modestly.
"The Hidden Sand Village also has many outstanding shinobi."
"For example..."
"Gaara was recognized as the strongest member of our generation during the Chūnin Exams."
Chiyo smiled knowingly.
"But that brat in front has already surpassed him."
"And you..."
"As well as that Uchiha boy..."
"Your strength is probably no weaker than Gaara's either."
"My dear..."
"You're a kind girl."
"But comforting words won't fool an old woman who's lived for more than seventy years."
Hinata's expression softened.
She realized that despite Chiyo's somewhat unreliable appearance...
The old woman possessed incredible wisdom and insight.
It was experience earned through countless battles...
Countless hardships...
And countless brushes with death.
No wonder Baki had immediately sought her help during the Hidden Sand Village's greatest crisis.
Hinata blushed slightly but continued smiling.
"I'm not trying to comfort you."
"Naruto-kun may have surpassed Gaara..."
"But I don't believe I have."
"I'm simply speaking honestly."
Chiyo nodded thoughtfully.
"Is that so?"
"If that's really true..."
"Then we'd better make sure that brat succeeds in bringing Gaara home."
Hinata hesitated before asking,
"Did the Hidden Sand Village..."
"...ever consider giving up on rescuing him?"
Chiyo let out a long sigh.
"You children are still young."
"You've never truly lived through chaotic times."
"When the Third Kazekage disappeared..."
"The entire village devoted itself to searching for him."
"And what happened?"
"Not only did we fail to find him..."
"The chaos left our village vulnerable."
"The Hidden Cloud Village took advantage of the situation and invaded."
"That was one of the sparks that ignited the Third Great Ninja War."
She looked toward the horizon.
"Today..."
"It's no different."
"The Hidden Sand Village is already the weakest of the Five Great Nations."
"We simply can't survive another internal crisis."
"So whether it's Baki..."
"Or even Gaara's own siblings..."
"They have no choice but to remain in the village."
"They must prevent another disaster."
Hinata fell silent.
Although she understood the reasoning...
The thought of abandoning a captured comrade still sent chills through her heart.
Grandmother Chiyo noticed her expression and smiled knowingly.
"My dear..."
"You're still young."
"The world isn't as simple or as idealistic as you believe."
Sasuke suddenly spoke.
His voice was cold and unwavering.
"If a village expects others to sacrifice themselves for its stability..."
"Then what right does that village have to demand protection?"
Grandmother Chiyo glanced at him.
"If people aren't willing to sacrifice themselves for their village..."
"Then what is the purpose of a ninja's existence?"
Sasuke let out a cold snort.
"Choosing to sacrifice yourself..."
"And being abandoned after you've been captured..."
"Are two completely different things."
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