Konoha: The Honored One

(A/N: Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you're having a wonderful time with your loved ones. As a holiday gift, I'm bringing you a triple chapter today! Enjoy, and thank you for being part of this journey!)

"Brother..." Sasuke murmured, a deep sadness in his voice as memories from the past resurfaced. It was hard to remember the days when his older brother, Itachi, had been the one person who loved him unconditionally. Back then, Sasuke was just a boy, unaware of the dark fate that awaited him, a fate that shattered his world in a single night.

That night—the night of the Uchiha clan's massacre—was when Sasuke lost everything. His family, his innocence, and his peace of mind. But what hurt the most was the truth that followed: the brother he had idolized, the one he had looked up to, was the very one who had destroyed everything.

Now, Itachi was not just a tragic figure in Sasuke's life—he was his most hated enemy.

Sasuke clenched his fists, his body trembling with the weight of his unresolved emotions. His teeth ground together as a sharp pain shot through his chest, a mixture of fury and sorrow. His eyes, once filled with admiration for Itachi, were now void of trust, replaced with hatred.

"Younger brother?" Sasuke scoffed bitterly, his voice laced with contempt. The term seemed almost like a cruel joke now. "What a joke... this pathetic family game..."

The very concept of family had become so foreign to him. The love and affection he had once known now felt like nothing more than an illusion. If he had to choose between his real family and the people who had given him strength, he would choose the latter without hesitation. Gojo Satoru, a man who had given him more understanding than his own blood ever had, was more of a family to him than the Uchihas ever could be.

Meanwhile, on the edge of Sunagakure, Temari stood, her hands clenched tightly in front of her. There was an undeniable sadness in her eyes as she spoke with urgency.

"Gaara is still protecting our village, even at the very end," she said, her voice laced with emotion. "Please, you have to save him. He's changed so much. He's no longer the same person we once knew."

Her words were heavy, like the weight of the entire village rested on her shoulders. She didn't just ask—it was as if she was begging, with a quiet desperation that tugged at the heartstrings of anyone who heard it.

Temari recalled the battle between Gaara and Deidara—how Gaara had chosen not to use his sand to protect himself, but to protect the whole village instead. He had poured every last bit of his chakra into safeguarding his people, a selfless act that showed just how far he had come. Gaara wanted to be more than just a weapon. He wanted to be seen as a person worthy of love and recognition.

"Gaara is changing," she continued, her voice trembling with emotion. "He wants to be recognized by others. Please, save him."

Gojo Satoru, who had been leaning against the wall with a bored expression, finally spoke up. He sighed dramatically, as if Temari's heartfelt plea was nothing more than a mild inconvenience to him.

"There's no need for all this drama," he said, his voice light and teasing. He reached down and ruffled Temari's hair, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone with such a flippant attitude. "Collecting money and saving people... it's all the same in the end. But fine, don't worry. Even if there's only a scrap of him left, I'll bring it back to you."

A lollipop materialized in his hand as if from nowhere, and he unwrapped it lazily, tossing it into his mouth as if he hadn't just made a promise to save a life. With a casual wave of his hand, he gestured for the group to follow him.

"Now that we've got all the sappy stuff out of the way," he continued with a grin, "let's head out."

As he spoke, he took the three members of the seventh squad—Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—and teleported them away without another word, leaving a bewildered Temari behind.

Temari watched them disappear with a mix of relief and confusion. She didn't understand the full extent of Gojo's abilities, but she had heard of his impressive feats. Rumors had circulated about his performance during the Chūnin Exams, where he single-handedly dispatched the entire Sand Shinobi force.

If the higher-ups in Sand Shinobi Village trusted him, then surely he was someone to be respected. But still, his carefree attitude made her uneasy. Could someone like him really be trusted with Gaara's life?

Just as the thought crossed her mind, she was interrupted by a voice behind her. Tsunade had approached, her expression serious.

"Gojo, you're going with the seventh class, right?" Tsunade's tone was firm but understanding. "This mission... it's unlike any other."

Gojo, who had been lounging with a casual smile, responded nonchalantly.

"It doesn't matter. I'll take care of it. These kids will be fine as long as I'm around."

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura exchanged uneasy glances. Their teacher's confidence was both reassuring and unnerving at the same time. After all, what could a group of teenagers do against the terrifying power of the Akatsuki?

Tsunade sighed, clearly still worried, but she trusted her son's strength. However, her concern wasn't unwarranted. With two Akatsuki members already in the Land of Rain, the mission was considered a super S-rank—meaning the odds were stacked against them. If things went wrong, it could result in a disaster for everyone involved.

"Be careful," Tsunade warned, her voice softening slightly.

Gojo grinned, showing no signs of fear.

"Don't worry, Tsuna. Wash your a** and wait for me to come back. I'll be fine." With that, he vanished, taking the seventh class with him.

Tsunade froze, her jaw tightening in frustration. She had grown up watching Gojo, and she knew his irreverent ways all too well. But this? This was too much. She could hardly believe that he would speak so casually about something so serious.

"Clean a**?!" she muttered under her breath, her face flushed with anger.

The ground beneath her feet cracked, and the Hokage building shuddered as she slammed her fist into the floor, causing the entire structure to tremble. "GOJO!" she yelled in exasperation.

One day later, at the border of the Land of Rain, the special reconnaissance team crouched in the shadows of a dense forest, surveying a massive mountain in the distance. The air was thick with tension, as they knew that the Akatsuki members were near.

Bisuke, a tracker with an acute sense of smell, sniffed the ground like a hound on the hunt. His nose twitched, and then he raised his head to speak to Kakashi.

"Kakashi-senpai," Bisuke said in a low, gravelly voice, "I've found their scent. The Akatsuki members are in that mountain ahead."

Kakashi nodded, his expression grim. "Good work, Bisuke. You should head back now. We'll handle it from here."

The tracker nodded once more and disappeared into a cloud of white smoke.

Kakashi turned to his team, his sharp eyes scanning the area. "Neji, can you see anything?"

Neji, using his Byakugan, focused his sight on the distant mountain. What he saw confirmed their worst fears: two figures dressed in black coats with red cloud patterns. Akatsuki members.

As they observed, one figure stood out—the fallen Gaara, his body devoid of chakra and life.

They had to act. Quickly.