"Temari, what should we do? The commotion has died down. Could One-Tail have been subdued by the Konoha people?"
Kankuro panted heavily, the Chakra threads controlling his puppet between his fingers flickering, almost impossible to maintain. He and Temari stood back-to-back, supporting each other's bodies as their Chakra was nearly exhausted.
Opposite them, Sasuke and Naruto stood on either side, also panting, but they had already faintly formed an encirclement.
"Gaara..."
Temari bit her lower lip, her voice low but determined. "We have to go and check."
"These two guys are too troublesome." Kankuro stared fixedly at the figures in front of him, his tone anxious.
"Wanting to shake us off?" Sasuke saw through their intentions and sneered. "Give up already."
"That's right! You're not going anywhere!" Naruto gripped his Kunai tightly, his gaze locked onto Kankuro.
Temari suddenly lowered her voice and spoke extremely fast, "Kankuro, I'll hold them off. You go find Gaara."
"But you..."
"Stop talking and go!"
"...I understand." Kankuro grit his teeth. "Be careful."
Temari gave a soft grunt, her giant fan already held horizontally in front of her.
"Naruto, don't let that puppet user get away!" Sasuke shouted.
"On it!"
Naruto raised his hand and threw a Kunai.
"Don't even think about it!"
Temari swung her fan with both arms, and a violent wind suddenly rose.
Violent wind pressure exploded outwards, instantly blowing away the Kunai. Sasuke had to raise his arm to shield himself from the dust blowing in his face, while Naruto was sent tumbling backward by the blast.
Kankuro seized this momentary opportunity to retreat rapidly, leaping toward a nearby tree trunk.
"Going somewhere?"
A calm voice suddenly sounded from above.
Kankuro's pupils constricted sharply. He saw a black shadow flash before his eyes, followed by a heavy, blunt pain in his abdomen.
In the next second, he flew back, crashing heavily at Temari's feet and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"What happened!?" Temari's face showed alarm as she looked down at her brother lying miserably on the ground.
"That... that person is here..."
Kankuro clutched his stomach and curled up on the ground, his gaze fixed intently on a spot not far away.
Temari followed his gaze, and the hair all over her body stood on end instantly. She subconsciously took half a step back.
"Uchiha... Mamoru."
When she saw clearly who he was holding in his hand, her breathing nearly stopped.
Gaara was actually being held by the scruff of his neck by Mamoru like a little chick, hanging limply in mid-air with an expressionless face.
"Gaara!" Temari shouted.
Gaara slowly raised his eyes to look at Temari, his lips moving slightly, but he said nothing.
"Mamoru!"
Sasuke shouted with a frown, "This is our battle, don't interfere!"
"Mamoru, you..." Naruto also looked at him blankly.
"All of you, shut up." Mamoru interrupted flatly.
His gaze fell upon the stiffened Temari and Kankuro in the center of the field, his voice not loud, but every word was clear. "Pick one. Surrender, or I kill Gaara right now."
"Damn it!" Kankuro struggled, trying to control Karasu.
"Kankuro, don't do anything rash!" Temari reached out to stop him. "Gaara is still in his hands!"
"But..."
"We surrender."
Temari closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then let go—the fan hit the ground with a 'clang'.
Kankuro remained silent for several seconds, his fists clenching until they cracked, before finally dejectedly releasing his fingers and severing the Chakra threads connected to the puppet.
Mamoru whispered at a volume only he and Gaara could hear, "It seems there are still people who care about you. It's just that you've been unilaterally blinded by ignorance and hatred."
Gaara's body trembled slightly as he murmured, "Temari... Kankuro..."
"Naruto, find some rope and tie them up."
"Leave it to me." Naruto replied happily.
A short while later, the three Sunagakure siblings were tied up tightly together and placed in an open area.
Mamoru glanced at the knots and couldn't help but complain in his heart, 'Naruto's tying skills are unexpectedly professional.'
"What are you going to do with us?" Temari looked up, trying hard to maintain her composure.
"Who gave you permission to speak?" Mamoru looked down at her, a deep blue swirling in his eyes.
"Remember, before you speak, address me as—Mamoru-sama. Understand?"
"Temari, ignore this self-righteous playboy!" Kankuro barked through gritted teeth.
"The hell?"
Mamoru took a step forward and slapped him across the face with a backhand.
"You dare to be so arrogant when your life is in my hands?"
After the hit, he suddenly turned and winked at Naruto. "How was my acting? Arrogant enough?"
"As expected of you!" Naruto grinned and gave a thumbs up.
"I want to try too."
He rubbed his hands together, looking eager to give it a go.
"Idiots, both of you." Sasuke turned his face away with a cold snort.
"Sasuke, what are you doing acting like a 'good guy' here!" Naruto grumbled dissatisfiedly.
Sasuke didn't bother to respond, leaving him with only the back of a cold head.
"Damn... you Konoha bastards! If you're going to kill us, then kill us!"
Kankuro's face stung with burning pain, and a sense of humiliation nearly burst through his chest.
"Kankuro, don't get agitated!" Temari hurriedly hissed.
"Temari! Even if I die, I won't bow my head to this kind of person!" Kankuro stiffened his neck, his eyes turning red.
Gaara remained silent throughout, his face showing no emotion, with only his slightly trembling eyelashes betraying a hint of inner turmoil.
"An invader still dares to give me attitude?" Mamoru tilted his chin toward Naruto. "Naruto, he's all yours."
"Finally, it's my turn to take the stage!"
Naruto rolled up his sleeves and rushed forward, showing no mercy as he unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks on Kankuro.
The dull thuds of physical impact were exceptionally clear in the empty, deserted area.
"Stop it." Gaara finally couldn't watch any longer and spoke in a raspy voice.
He raised his eyes, a hint of emotion leaking into his dry voice. "If you want to hit someone... hit me."
"G-Gaara..." Temari looked at Gaara blankly, her eyes full of disbelief.
Kankuro looked over through his swollen eyelids, his gaze filled with astonishment.
Mamoru tilted his head. "What deep sibling affection. But you are prisoners now. Whatever is done to you, don't have any complaints."
"I..." Temari opened her mouth.
"Hmm?" Mamoru raised his voice, his brow arching slightly.
"...Mamoru-sama." Temari squeezed the title out from between her teeth.
"We know we were wrong. But even as prisoners, we should be treated in a more reasonable manner."
"What?" Mamoru leaned down, his shadow looming over her. "You have an issue with my handling of things?"
"No... Mamoru-sama, I wouldn't dare." Temari lowered her head, her body shaking from humiliation and her voice trembling. "Please... stop the beating."
Seeing his sister compromising so much for him, Kankuro roared, "I'll kill you!"
"I told you to stop!"
Sand beneath Gaara suddenly shot toward Mamoru.
Mamoru waved his hand casually, and the sand bundle collapsed.
He thought to himsel, 'As expected of a Jinchuriki, to recover enough Chakra to launch an attack in such a short time.'
"Naruto, stop."
"This guy's bones are really tough." Naruto shook his red, scraped fists and backed away, panting.
Kankuro lay on the ground with a bruised and swollen face. His bones were indeed tough, as he didn't make a sound.
"This war is almost over. Let's wait for the Anbu to wrap things up." Mamoru looked toward the sky.