The Death of Gaara!

Synopsis
Team Guy and Team Kakashi both finish resting up and go back to pursuing Gaara. Neji notices that there is no one in their vicinity, meaning that their enemies are confident that they have been successfully delayed, which he finds uncomfortable. Chiyo and Kakashi come to the same conclusion as well. Naruto's anger and frustration causes him to slightly tap into the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra, causing his whiskers to become more prominent, changing his eyes from red to blue and increasing his stamina. Chiyo asks Kakashi why Naruto is so keen on rescuing Gaara when they're not even from the same village. Kakashi explains that Naruto is also a jinchūriki, that he harbors the spirit of the Nine-Tailed Fox within him. Kakashi tells her that since all jinchūriki are treated the same no matter what village they're raised in, Naruto understands the pain Gaara suffered through, and therefore he wishes to save Gaara from any more pain and suffering. Chiyo is surprised at this, and tells Kakashi that at her old age, she thought she knew how the world worked. She believed people only looked out of themselves and that alliances with neighbouring lands were nothing more than a farce. Wanting only to do what was best for Sunagakure, Chiyo tells Kakashi that it was she, with the permission of the Fourth Kazekage, who sealed Shukaku inside of Gaara. Despite being an old woman, she believes that perhaps there is still something she could do for the good of the village.

Meanwhile, the Akatsuki finish sealing Shukaku inside of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. The extraction kills Gaara, who in his last moments contemplates on the nature of his existence. Deidara states that the entire process took three days. Gaara's dead body falls the floor, and Deidara and Sasori prepare to deal with the intruders headed their way. Outside of the hideout, Team Guy arrive. Lee decides to break their way in, but Guy notices the barrier seal. At the same time, Team Kakashi arrive. Lee is ecstatic to see Naruto and Sakura once more, but Naruto, still under the influence of the Nine-Tails' chakra, is too agitated and restless to have a reunion. Guy and Kakashi then decide to work together to find a way inside the base.