The Foreboding Dream

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As I opened my eyes, I found myself surrounded by the familiar sights of a desert town. The air was thick with heat, even under the dark expanse of the nighttime sky. My gaze traveled upwards, drawn to the unmistakable shape of a massive white bird soaring through the air. On its back stood a lone figure, his long blonde bangs obscuring one eye, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Deidara?..." I muttered, my mind sluggish as I tried to process what I was seeing.

But the moment my gaze shifted downward, realization struck like a kunai to the chest.

"Wait, that's Gaara!" I gasped, my heart slamming against my ribs.

He stood atop the Kazekage building, his arms crossed, an imposing figure bathed in the moonlight. His gourd pulsed with chakra-infused sand, a shield ready to strike at any moment. Even from a distance, I could feel the weight of his presence—strong, determined. But there was something else. Something wrong.

The air trembled.

A deafening explosion shattered the night.

"Gaara!" I screamed as a colossal burst of sand erupted into the sky, fragments raining down like a shattered defense.

And then—

Riiiiiing!

I jolted awake, my body drenched in sweat, my breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. My alarm clock blared beside me, its shrill noise dragging me back to reality.

A dream.

No.

A memory.

My head snapped toward the window, and that’s when I saw it—the unmistakable silhouette of a Sand Village messenger bird, Takamaru, perched outside.

Shit.

It happened.

How could I forget?

Panic surged through my veins, drowning out all thoughts except one: I need to move.

Throwing the covers off, I scrambled out of bed, slipping into my usual shinobi attire at a speed that would make even Gai-sensei proud. I didn’t even bother tying my hair properly—just enough to keep it out of my face. There was no time.

Without another second wasted, I bolted out of my home, sprinting toward the Hokage’s office, my mind racing with only one thought—Gaara is in danger.

By the time I reached the office, my lungs burned from exertion, but I didn’t care. I pushed through the doors with force, nearly knocking them off their hinges.

"Tsunade-sama!"

The weight of the situation pressed against my chest, but I forced myself to steady my breath. As my vision adjusted to the room, I realized I wasn’t alone.

Team Kakashi was already there.

Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi turned toward me, expressions ranging from confusion to mild concern. I barely had time to register their presence before I snapped my attention to the Hokage.

"Tsunade-sama," I gasped, swallowing the lump in my throat. "The Sand Village—Gaara—he’s under attack."

Silence.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint rustling of paper from Tsunade’s desk. Then, she exhaled sharply.

"Takamaru just arrived with a message from the Sand," she said, her voice steady but laced with tension. "The Kazekage has been kidnapped."

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