What they had said wasn't entirely unreasonable.
Even so, Granny Chiyo simply shook her head.
"For a ninja who has already made up their mind..."
"All of those things should become one and the same."
Naruto, who was flying at the front of the group, finally couldn't hold back.
"Then why are you still trying to save Gaara?!"
Even as she was questioned by three different people, Granny Chiyo's expression remained calm.
"Save Gaara?"
She smiled faintly before answering.
"You're mistaken."
"There's only one reason I came out of retirement..."
"I want to see my grandson one last time before I die."
Hinata blinked in surprise.
"Your grandson?"
Granny Chiyo nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"The man you know as Sasori of the Red Sand..."
"He is my grandson."
The expressions of Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata changed instantly.
"Sasori of the Red Sand?!"
"The S-Rank rogue ninja from the Akatsuki?"
"He's your grandson?!"
A bitter smile appeared on Granny Chiyo's weathered face.
"That's right."
"I was the one who taught him everything about Puppet Ninjutsu."
As they continued moving, Granny Chiyo quietly told them Sasori's story.
"After Sasori's parents were killed by Konoha's White Fang..."
"He became withdrawn and silent."
"Hoping to ease the loneliness in his heart, I taught him the art of puppet techniques."
"His talent was extraordinary."
"Before long, he surpassed both his teacher and even me."
"He became known throughout the Hidden Sand as a genius puppet master."
She sighed deeply.
"But no matter how skilled a puppeteer becomes..."
"They can never truly fill the emptiness inside a human heart."
"Then, one day..."
"Sasori disappeared."
"At almost the same time, the Third Kazekage also vanished."
"Even today..."
"That incident remains one of the Hidden Sand's greatest mysteries."
Naruto looked surprised.
"The White Fang of Konoha..."
"Wasn't that Kakashi-sensei's father?"
Hinata gently changed the subject.
"Granny Chiyo..."
"Do you think Sasori's disappearance is connected to the Third Kazekage's disappearance?"
Granny Chiyo let out another sigh.
"Perhaps."
"But there has never been any proof."
"So..."
Hinata asked softly,
"Is that why you came out of retirement this time?"
Granny Chiyo laughed.
"My child..."
"I'm already an old woman."
"I no longer possess the passion I once had."
"The truth behind the Third Kazekage's disappearance..."
"The death of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa..."
"I've already let all of that go."
"The older generation should step aside."
"It's time for the younger generation to carry the future."
She looked ahead calmly.
"As I said before..."
"I came back for only one reason."
"I want to see my grandson one last time before I die."
Hinata remained silent.
She couldn't tell how much of Granny Chiyo's words were genuine.
Naruto, however, found his opinion of the elderly woman gradually changing.
Although her words had been harsh, she had spoken honestly from the beginning.
Even though her grandson had become a rogue ninja responsible for countless crimes...
She still wished to see him one final time before her death.
Naruto couldn't help feeling envious.
At the same time...
He also couldn't understand Sasori.
He had a grandmother who loved him deeply.
Yet he had abandoned everything and chosen the path of darkness.
That thought filled Naruto with disgust.
More importantly...
It made him even more determined to save Gaara.
"Everyone, stay close to me."
"I'll use Wind Release to increase our speed."
"We have to reach Gaara as quickly as possible."
Without another word...
Naruto activated Wind Release: Chakra Mode.
A violent gale erupted around him.
Powerful Wind Release chakra surged throughout his body, dramatically increasing his speed.
At the same time, streams of wind surrounded Hinata, Sasuke, and Granny Chiyo, allowing all of them to move much faster.
Granny Chiyo couldn't hide her astonishment.
"Brat..."
"You're incredibly fast."
"But if you keep consuming chakra like this..."
"I'm afraid you'll be exhausted before you even reach the enemy."
Naruto didn't hesitate.
"That's still better than arriving too late!"
"As long as I get there in time..."
"I'll find a way to save Gaara!"
Granny Chiyo looked at him in surprise.
"Why are you willing to go this far?"
Naruto took a deep breath.
"Because..."
"Gaara is another version of me."
After saying that, he spoke no more.
Wrapped in roaring winds, the four of them shot across the sky like a hurricane.
Because of Naruto's incredible speed...
They soon began catching up to the traces left behind by the enemy.
Suddenly...
The sounds of an intense battle echoed from ahead.
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"They're still fighting!"
He immediately accelerated again.
As they approached the battlefield, Naruto recognized one of the combatants.
"Kitsuchi!"
Kitsuchi had served as one of the Tsuchikage's guards during the Five Kage Summit, so Naruto recognized him immediately.
Sasuke's expression also changed.
"He's fighting Kisame Hoshigaki!"
Naruto instantly shouted,
"Kitsuchi-san!"
"Where's Gaara?!"
Using his immense chakra and powerful Earth Release techniques, Kitsuchi was locked in a fierce battle against Kisame Hoshigaki—the so-called Tailless Tailed Beast.
Hearing Naruto's voice, Kitsuchi answered loudly without taking his eyes off his opponent.
"I haven't seen Gaara!"
"Kisame suddenly intercepted me, so I stayed behind to deal with him."
"Asuma Sarutobi and Might Guy have already continued the pursuit!"
Naruto nodded.
"Can you handle him?"
"Do you need help?"
Kitsuchi laughed confidently.
"Don't worry."
"I've got this."
"And don't forget..."
"Earth Release naturally counters Water Release."
Kisame grinned wickedly.
"Is that so?"
"Don't celebrate too early."
Kitsuchi ignored him.
"Naruto!"
"Go after Gaara!"
"Leave this battlefield to me!"
Naruto nodded firmly.
"Understood!"
"Be careful, Kitsuchi-san!"
Without another word, the group sped past the battlefield.
Naruto glanced back once before continuing.
In truth...
Kitsuchi's strength was often underestimated.
His chakra reserves were astonishing, and his Earth Release techniques ranked among the strongest in the ninja world.
In the original history, he had even temporarily restrained the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Before the Ten-Tails fully revived, he had managed to suppress it briefly with an Earth Release technique the size of a mountain.
That alone spoke volumes about his incredible strength.
Besides...
The Kisame before them wasn't even the real Kisame.
He was merely a transformed clone created through Pain's Rinnegan.
Kitsuchi had every reason to be confident.
---
Several more hours passed.
Eventually, Naruto's group encountered another squad from Konoha.
Naruto's face immediately brightened.
"Asuma-sensei!"
Ahead of them was Team 10, led by Asuma Sarutobi.
Their opponent was a woman with long blue hair and a calm, emotionless expression.
Half of her body had transformed into paper.
White wings spread behind her like those of an angel.
It was Konan.
Asuma smiled when he saw Naruto.
"I knew you'd come."
"The moment I heard Gaara had been captured..."
"I figured you'd rush here immediately."
Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji also looked toward Naruto.
"Naruto!"
Shikamaru remained unusually serious.
"Now isn't the time for greetings."
"That paper woman isn't easy to deal with."
His shadow stretched across the ground, but Konan remained high in the sky, well beyond its reach.
Normally lazy and carefree...
Shikamaru never lost his composure when it truly mattered.
"Naruto."
"Go after Gaara."
"Leave her to Team 10."
Although breathing heavily, his voice remained calm.
Asuma nodded.
"Shikamaru's right."
"You keep moving."
Naruto nodded.
"Okay!"
"Asuma-sensei!"
"Shikamaru!"
"Be careful!"
The group once again flew past another battlefield.
Granny Chiyo frowned thoughtfully.
"The Akatsuki members are staying behind one after another..."
"But none of them seem interested in fighting to the death."
"They only have one objective."
"To buy time."
Naruto immediately looked at her.
"Granny Chiyo!"
"Have you figured something out?"
She nodded.
"I don't know their exact plan."
"But whatever they're doing..."
"It clearly requires time."
"That's why they're delaying us."
"They're sacrificing manpower to keep us away."
Hinata suddenly realized something.
"A ritual..."
"A ritual to extract the Tailed Beast."
Sasuke immediately understood as well.
"That means..."
"Gaara should still be alive."
Naruto's heart filled with hope.
"Great!"
"Then let's move even faster!"
The group surged forward once again.
Before long...
Another battlefield came into view.
This time...
It was Team Guy, led by Might Guy.
Standing opposite them...
Was another member of the Akatsuki.
"Sasori?!"
Granny Chiyo's pupils shrank instantly.
As she stared at the figure wielding the Kuroari puppet in battle, her aged eyes filled with shock, sorrow, and longing.
Hearing the familiar yet distant voice...
Sasori of the Red Sand slowly turned his head.
The face before them was aged, grotesque, and terrifying.
Cold.
Cruel.
Bloodthirsty.
Almost demonic.
Naruto frowned instinctively.
"So..."
"This is Granny Chiyo's grandson..."
________________________________________
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