"Charge!"
Naruto was the first to react, charging inside at the top of his lungs.
Kakashi and Chiyo exchanged a glance, each seeing the numbness in the other's eyes, then followed close behind.
Everyone filed in.
The cavern was enormous and dimly lit, its air thick with an unsettling presence.
An enormous altar stood in the center of the cavern.
A small, thin figure lay motionless on the altar. It was Gaara, whose tailed beast had been extracted.
Two people stood beside the altar.
One was tall, with bluish skin, carrying a strange greatsword wrapped in bandages over his shoulder and grinning with a mouth full of sharp teeth. It was Kisame Hoshigaki.
The other was encased in a bulky, bizarre puppet, with only a pair of cold eyes exposed.
Sasori of the Red Sands.
"Gaara!"
Temari let out a cry of anguish. Seeing her younger brother's lifeless state, her body went limp, and she began to fall backward.
A large, warm, strong hand had slipped around her soft waist at some point, holding her steady.
Goten had appeared beside her without her noticing.
His arm did not exert much force, yet it carried an irresistible sense of security, giving Temari's panicked mind something to lean on.
"Don't panic."
Goten's low voice sounded beside her ear.
"With me here, he won't die."
Temari stiffened a little, a blush rising uncontrollably to her cheeks.
The warmth at her waist and the man's uniquely masculine scent made her forget her grief for a moment.
"Oh? Quite a few rats have shown up."
With Samehada over his shoulder, Kisame surveyed the newcomers with interest.
Goten helped Temari steady herself before raising his eyes to glance at him.
"This stinking fish again."
His brows knitted, undisguised disgust filling his face.
"I could smell your