Sunagakure
A plot nearly identical to the original unfolded once more. Sasori entered Sunagakure through the spy he had left behind, while Deidara handled the capture. To save Sunagakure, Gaara moved Deidara's C1 away, exhausting all his chakra. With his life hanging by a thread, he was captured by Deidara.
As they watched the clay bird gradually fly away, only Kankuro and a few others gave chase. Everyone else who wanted to rescue Gaara was stopped by the Sunagakure high command and ordered to remain in the village to guard against sneak attacks from other countries.
A day later, Kankuro was carried back, poisoned by a deadly toxin that even Chiyo was helpless against.
The Sunagakure high command then convened a high-level meeting. This time, an old woman sat in the position of Kazekage. It was Chiyo, once again invited out of retirement.
There was no helping it. As the saying went, Sunagakure had no one left. They could only ask Chiyo to hold things together once more.
The meeting erupted into debate. Some advocated sending people to rescue Gaara, while others argued that Gaara was most likely already dead and that any rescue effort would be meaningless.
In the end, Gaara's actions had moved most of them, and those supporting a rescue gained the upper hand.
More importantly, they could not afford to have the Kazekage's corpse cast aside somewhere outside the village. Sunagakure could not bear that humiliation.
"We have already requested aid from our ally Konoha. Their reinforcements will arrive soon, and they can set out together with the people we send."
"Then who are we sending? Those are two bona fide Kage-level fighters."
Watching the crowd argue without end, Chiyo spoke up. "I'll go rescue him myself."
"No! You need to remain in Sunagakure and keep