12
It gently enveloped that lonely soul and, without the slightest hesitation, pulled her back into the world of the living.
The light faded.
Above Sunagakure, space warped.
A new body rapidly took shape, and the soul merged with it perfectly.
Karura's eyes flew open. Reflected in them were her three children, their eyes brimming with tears.
"Mom!"
All three cried out almost at once, tears streaming down their faces.
Kankuro dropped to his knees. Temari covered her face and sobbed, while Gaara stood rooted to the spot, his whole body rigid.
Karura stared blankly at the faces before her, so familiar yet so changed. Her mind went empty.
"Kankuro? Temari? And... Gaara?"
She reached out with a trembling hand, wanting to touch their faces, then drew it back in disbelief.
"Am I... am I alive?"
Comments flooded the screen.
Fourth Kazekage Rasa stared at the scene, his expression conflicted.
He knew his wife Karura had returned to the world through this mechanism.
But Gaara had not been the one to bring her back.
If someone else resurrected his own mother, Rasa would only feel relieved, not jealous.
After all, he had always treated the boy with more severity than warmth.
In Gaara's place, Rasa probably could not have put his parents aside to help someone else first, either.
[Fourth Kazekage: Gaara, look after your mother.]
[Gaara: I will.]
The view switched back to the other side.
Sasuke watched, a bitter ache rising in his chest.
Naruto got his mom back. Gaara got his mom back.
What about my parents?
How long am I supposed to wait?
He pushed down his loneliness and focused on the ranking about to appear.
This was his debut.
He had only one chance.
"As long as it isn't a complete dud."
Sasuke Uchiha clenched