Rasa wanted to scold Yashamaru.
But Chiyo stopped him. The deep bond between Karura and Yashamaru reminded her of herself and Ebizo.
Over the years, her husband had died, her son and daughter-in-law had fallen in battle, and her grandson had deserted the village.
For all those years, Ebizo had been the one by her side.
Without Ebizo, Chiyo didn't know if she could have stayed so strong.
They had relied on each other since childhood. No matter how fiercely the wind and sand blew, it could never sweep away their concern for each other.
The older sister always saved her warmth for her younger brother, and he treated her as his only support. A word, a glance—each said more than a thousand sentences.
Chiyo and Ebizo both saw echoes of their younger selves in Karura and Yashamaru.
The mornings on the desert sands always brought old memories to mind.
"Why does it have to be my sister who bears this burden?"
Karura said gently to Yashamaru, "Because I'm the Kazekage's wife, and, more than that, a member of this village."
"..."
Rasa stared silently at Karura with his browless eyes. His fists clenched, then loosened, then clenched again.
Would she really be all right?
Chiyo said, "All right, let's finish this quickly! We need to seal Shukaku inside Karura's belly before noon, then move her as soon as possible to keep Madara Uchiha from sending people to take him."
Karura let go of Yashamaru's hand and slowly walked toward the Shukaku Altar.
Chiyo followed her, had her lie down on the altar, then fetched the Bunbuku Chagama. She prepared to perform the technique to release the seal on the Bunbuku Chagama, then seal Shukaku inside the fetus in Karura's womb.
Chiyo said to Karura, "Karura, once Shukaku enters your