121-125

Chapter 121: Gaara, Beasts Always Walk Alone

Some people bask in the sunlight, yet their hearts remain cold.

No matter how bright or warm the sunlight may be, it cannot reach a closed-off and dark heart.

Gaara was just like that.

He sat on a swing, swaying gently back and forth, his only companion a small teddy bear in his hands.

As he watched the other children laughing and playing together, all he could do was silently observe.

Raising his hand, he tried to peer at the sun through his fingers. The light was so dazzling that he squinted instinctively.

At least, for the past month or two, his sleep had improved. He no longer experienced those nights when the monster would take control of his body the moment he fell asleep, causing destruction in the village.

This gave the Hidden Sand Village a brief period of peace. Though the villagers’ eyes remained cold and unkind when they looked at Gaara, his mood had improved—if only slightly.

And it was all thanks to that soldier pill.

Leaving the swing behind, Gaara wandered aimlessly until he arrived at that familiar store.

Unconsciously, he stepped inside. Strangely, the Anbu tasked with secretly monitoring him showed no reaction to Gaara’s frequent visits to the Higanbana Shop.

To Gaara, this store felt like it had a special kind of magic that could block out all the bad things in the world.

As he walked further inside, the Anbu in the shadows seemed completely unfazed, as though Gaara’s visit were the most natural thing in the world.

Stepping into the shop, Gaara was not surprised to see that bright, sunny smile.

No—perhaps this smile was even more radiant than sunlight itself.

After all, ordinary sunlight couldn’t reach Gaara’s heart, but the kindness of a smile could fill it with warmth.

The store’s manager was one of only two people in the Hidden Sand Village who smiled at Gaara.

Under the manager’s influence, the store clerk, Chizuko, had also come to see the boy in a new light.

To her, Gaara looked like a shy, ordinary child—nothing at all like the terrifying monster the rumors described.

“You’re here, Gaara,” the store manager greeted him with a warm smile.

Gaara returned the smile brightly. “Good morning, Mr. Manager.”

“Good morning.”

The manager, Kaneki, took a box of soldier pills from the shelf and asked, “Here for more soldier pills today, Gaara?”

Gaara scratched his head sheepishly, his face a little red.

“I’m really sorry, Mr. Manager. I always say I’m here to buy them, but I never actually pay.”

Gaara wanted to pay, but he simply didn’t have the means.

Though his father was the Fourth Kazekage, Gaara had never experienced the privileges of being the son of a powerful leader. From the moment he was born, he had been burdened with a heavy and terrifying duty.

Kaneki ruffled Gaara’s hair affectionately and smiled. “Don’t worry about it. You’ve already given me plenty in return.”

Gaara looked up at Kaneki in confusion. “But, Mr. Manager, you always say that, and I really don’t think I’ve given you anything at all.”

Kaneki’s smile deepened.

What he said wasn’t a lie. After all, every time Gaara took a soldier pill, a small amount of the Tailed Beast’s chakra inside him was extracted.

Though the amount wasn’t much, its value far exceeded that of dozens—or even hundreds—of soldier pills.

With Gaara’s “help,” Kaneki had made significant progress in analyzing the chakra of the One-Tail. He estimated that his understanding had already reached 4.2%, and it wouldn’t be long before the Tailed Beast’s chakra could be put to practical use.

Of course, there was still a lot of data to collect before that could happen.

After taking a soldier pill as usual, Gaara didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he turned to Kaneki and asked a question.

“Mr. Manager, why doesn’t anyone like me?”

The small boy furrowed his tiny brows, his face clouded with sadness.

For a child, not having playmates was a burden heavier than anything else.

Kaneki smiled gently. “That’s not true. I like you, Gaara.”

Gaara’s cheeks turned bright red. No one had ever said that to him before.

“N-No, Mr. Manager. I mean, it’s just... the villagers all seem afraid of me. They won’t play with me, even though I’ve never wanted to hurt anyone.”

As he spoke, the smile on Gaara’s face faded, replaced by a look of melancholy.

Kaneki shook his head and smiled. “Gaara, beasts always walk alone.”

“Beasts?” Gaara looked up at him, his face full of confusion. He clearly didn’t understand what that meant.

Kaneki explained patiently, “Gaara, what do you think happens when a tiger wanders into a flock of sheep?”

Gaara thought for a moment before answering, “The sheep would run away in fear.”

Kaneki nodded. “Exactly. The sheep run because they’re afraid of the tiger’s sharp teeth. But what if the tiger says it means no harm and just wants to be friends?”

Gaara furrowed his small brows again, thinking hard. This time, it took him longer to respond.

“The sheep would still run away.”

Kaneki nodded approvingly. “That’s right. No matter what the tiger does, the sheep will always run away—because the tiger has the power to tear them apart.”

“Are you saying... I’m the tiger?” Gaara asked hesitantly.

Kaneki’s smile widened. “Exactly, Gaara. You have the power to destroy the entire Hidden Sand Village. You’re the strongest tiger in the village. The sheep will never play with you.

“Only beasts can become companions to other beasts.”

“Only beasts... can become companions to other beasts?”

Gaara repeated the words to himself as he left the Higanbana Shop.

On his way through a park, a soccer ball came flying toward him. Before he could react, the sand around him automatically caught the ball with ease.

Gaara reached out and held the ball in his arms.

A group of children ran over. Just as Gaara was about to return the ball, they began pointing at him and shouting.

“Hey, monster! Give us our ball back!”

“Yeah, hurry up and give it back!”

Gaara frowned slightly and tried to explain. “I’m not... I didn’t...”

He held the ball out to return it, but the children screamed in terror and ran away.

“Run! The monster’s going to kill us!”

“I didn’t!” Gaara shouted, his eyes wide with panic.

He reached out an arm to stop them, but as he did, a wave of sand shot out like a blade, streaking toward one of the children’s backs.

---

End of Chapter

Chapter 122: Baki: No Big Deal

A terrifying crisis descended in an instant, and all the children let out screams of fear. At this moment, they felt completely enveloped by the shadow of death.

The child who had first mocked Gaara, now targeted by him, turned pale and trembled uncontrollably.

Facing the sand blades shooting from Gaara's fingertips, he had no ability to resist and could only wait for death to claim him.

Gaara's face also showed fear. He desperately wanted to stop the sand from advancing, but with his current abilities, he couldn't do it.

Just as everyone fell into despair, a figure appeared.

It was Gaara's uncle, Yashamaru.

He instantly appeared in front of the child, using his hand to block Gaara's "retention."

Even though Yashamaru had used chakra to defend himself, Gaara's sand still easily cut through his skin.

Blood mixed with sand splattered, leaving a deep wound on his hand, nearly severing his entire palm.

"Uncle!"

The sand in Gaara's hand dissipated, and he rushed to Yashamaru to check his injury.

Gaara loved his uncle dearly, as he and the shopkeeper were among the few who didn't fear him and genuinely cared for him.

Thus, Gaara was filled with guilt for accidentally hurting his uncle.

As for the other children, after grateful that they hadn't been killed, they didn't dare stay in front of Gaara, the "monster," and quickly ran away.

Seeing Gaara's guilty expression, Yashamaru, with his light golden hair, forced a gentle smile despite the intense pain in his hand and gently ruffled Gaara's hair.

"I'm fine, Gaara. I know you didn't mean it, right?"

Gaara nodded hurriedly, flustered as he explained, "I really didn't mean it. I just wanted them to stay and listen to my explanation, but the sand just... I don't know why..."

At this point, Gaara began to feel feel wronged, because he truly had no ill intentions, yet even a simple thought could cause harm to others.

"It's okay, Gaara. Let's go home."

Yashamaru didn't say much. After a simple bandage, he took Gaara home.

That night, Gaara sat alone on the rooftop.

The bright moon hung high, and the wind in Sunagakure was cool, the entire village enveloped in tranquility.

But Gaara knew that even in the quiet night, numerous ANBU ninjas were watching his every move.

Their purpose was to prevent him from disrupting this peace.

It seemed as though he and the village were always on opposing sides, never truly integrating.

Gaara gazed at the cold, luminous moon in the sky, lost in thought.

"Gaara, beasts always walk alone."

"Even if a tiger has no intention of harming sheep, its fangs and claws can easily tear the sheep apart during play..."

"So, a beast's companions can only be other beasts. They can never mingle with the sheep..."

The shopkeeper's words echoed in Gaara's young mind once again.

"Can a tiger's fangs and claws unintentionally harm sheep?"

Gaara raised his small hands. Under the moonlight, they appeared incredibly tender.

Yet, beneath these tender hands lay deadly potential.

He had only wanted to explain himself to those kids, but that mere thought had nearly cost them their lives.

Wasn't this the perfect explanation of the shopkeeper's analogy of beasts and sheep?

A sudden realization dawned on Gaara.

Watching their brother explanation on the rooftop, Temari and Kankuro grew worried.

On one hand, they were concerned that Gaara might have been wronged. On the other, they feared that if Gaara felt wronged, he might lose control and go on a rampage.

To be fair, Temari and Kankuro were just children under ten themselves. Facing a brother who was like a ticking time bomb, showing any concern was already commendable.

Also watching Gaara was the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, sitting in his office.

"Knock knock..."

"Come in."

Rasa shifted his attention back to the present. Baki, having received permission, quickly entered and stood before Rasa.

"Kazekage-sama, our reconnaissance team has discovered an ancient ruin while investigating the Wind Scorpion swarm. It houses at least a thousand Wind Scorpions, the largest swarm ever found. Moreover, there seems to be a special creature within the swarm capable of controlling the Wind Scorpions."

"Currently, the reconnaissance team is under siege by the Wind Scorpions and is formally requesting reinforcements from the village."

Hearing this, Rasa's spirits lifted instantly.

A thousand Wind Scorpions meant Sunagakure could obtain a vast amount of scorpion jade, significantly boosting the village's strength.

More importantly, the creature capable of controlling the Wind Scorpions—if they could capture it, would it mean Sunagakure could control the reproduction and combat abilities of the Wind Scorpions in the future?

This would be an unprecedented enhancement to Sunagakure's military power!

"This is a matter of utmost importance..."

Rasa's eyes gleamed with determination. After a moment of thought, he decisively issued orders as the Fourth Kazekage: "Baki, you will personally lead two ANBU squads to provide support. Ensure that the creature controlling the Wind Scorpions is captured! Do not harm it!"

"Kazekage-sama, isn't two ANBU squads a bit excessive? Wouldn't that leave the village's defenses somewhat..."

Though he understood the urgency, such a large-scale mobilization of ANBU made him uneasy.

After all, one squad consisted of three teams, totaling nine members. Two squads would mean eighteen ANBU members.

How many squads did Sunagakure even have?

Including those on missions outside the village, only about a third of Sunagakure's ANBU remained, leaving the village's defenses somewhat vulnerable.

Rasa, however, was confident. "Don't worry. With me here as Kazekage, even if something happens, I can handle it."

Baki looked at the confident Kazekage and finally nodded.

It had to be admitted that this Fourth Kazekage, who mastered Magnet Release and could skillfully control gold dust, was quite powerful.

With his excellent sealing techniques, even if Shukaku went on a rampage, it shouldn't be a big deal.

Moreover, although a portion of the ANBU was missing, as one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Sunagakure had other powerful ninjas, making its defenses more than sufficient.

"In that case, I'll take my leave."

Baki disappeared, leading the ANBU to provide support.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 123: A Weapon Doesn’t Need Emotions

In the dark, silent mental world, Shukaku once again opened his eyes, staring intensely at the faint figure that had appeared before him.

“Brat with glasses, I’m warning you—don’t push your luck! Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to tell Rasa about your existence. Worst case scenario, we’ll go down together!” Shukaku growled angrily.

But his sharp, screeching voice made the threat sound more like a street shrew’s yelling.

Kaneki gently adjusted his glasses, chuckling softly. “Mr. Shukaku, let’s not get so worked up just yet.”

Shukaku almost lost it. “Not get worked up?! I’m a dignified Tailed Beast, for crying out loud! If you’ve got the guts, release me and fight me fair and square! What’s with all this stealing chakra from me using someone else’s seal?”

How could he stay calm?

Every night, ever since Gaara started consuming that cursed military ration pill, Kaneki’s figure would appear without fail.

Using a modified sealing technique derived from the Uzumaki clan, combined with Rasa’s pre-existing seal, Kaneki would siphon chakra from Shukaku.

Afterward, the chakra was transferred outside via blood spirit bugs, where black-armored bugs in a barrier devoured it and transported it to Kaneki’s desert base for analysis and research.

Shukaku had been enduring this for months!

Once a ferocious, terrifying monster created by the Sage of Six Paths himself, Shukaku had now been reduced to someone’s *charging station*?

This was intolerable!

Kaneki simply spread his hands slightly, his face showing no hint of remorse.

“Mr. Shukaku, there’s no need to pretend in front of me.”

A cold glint flashed across his glasses.

“You must have noticed it by now. Every time I extract chakra from you, Rasa’s seal weakens a little bit.”

Shukaku’s expression immediately turned serious.

“You’re doing this on purpose?”

Of course, he had noticed the weakening of the seal. Otherwise, Shukaku would have long since attacked it forcefully to alert Rasa of the anomaly.

Tailed Beasts aren’t stupid, after all.

Kaneki raised an eyebrow, choosing not to answer Shukaku’s question. Instead, he said, “It’s about time.”

“What do you mean, ‘about time’?”

Shukaku frowned. How could this guy, despite being so young, sound so cryptic all the time?

A faint smile appeared on Kaneki’s lips, and his eyes gleamed. “It’s almost time for you to be free of this seal. Just be ready.”

With that, the figure in Gaara’s mental world dissipated into chakra and disappeared.

The chakra was naturally reabsorbed by both Gaara’s body and Shukaku’s mental form, inadvertently restoring a bit of Shukaku’s chakra.

As he stared at the now-empty dark prison, Shukaku suddenly realized something: That guy hadn’t siphoned any chakra from him today!

He almost felt... *strange* without it.

Lying down, Shukaku muttered to himself, Could that guy actually be telling the truth? Is there really going to be an opportunity for me to break free from this seal in the coming days?  

He frowned. No matter how he thought about it, as long as that old man Rasa was around, even if he temporarily regained freedom, he’d likely just get sealed back again.

Unless... someone could hold Rasa off.

Could it be...  

If it were that kid, it might actually be possible to delay Rasa.

After all, this was someone who could come and go freely in the heavily guarded Hidden Sand Village. He also possessed Uzumaki blood, capable of breaking and destabilizing Rasa’s sealing techniques. Even Shukaku, as a Tailed Beast, couldn’t fully see through his abilities.

Well, if that’s the case, I’d better get ready.  

Slowly, Shukaku climbed to his feet and began meditating, gathering chakra.

As he trained, his previously deflated “beer belly” gradually inflated, as if it were filling with air.

---

The next morning, Gaara opened his eyes under the warm sunlight, stretching comfortably.

Clearly, he had slept exceptionally well last night.

After a quick breakfast, Gaara grabbed his ball and left the house.

His sister Temari and brother Kankuro exchanged puzzled looks. What’s up with him today?  

Gaara walked straight to the house of the kid he had nearly killed yesterday and knocked on the door.

The moment the kid saw Gaara, his eyes widened in terror, and he immediately tried to slam the door shut. But no matter how hard he pushed, the door wouldn’t budge—it was like it had been welded in place.

Looking down, he realized sand had jammed the door.

That same feeling of being on the brink of death from yesterday hit him again.

However, this time, Gaara didn’t do anything. He simply tossed the ball at the kid’s feet.

“Here’s your ball back.”

With that, Gaara withdrew the sand and walked away without looking back.

Watching Gaara’s retreating figure, the kid felt an inexplicable emotion he couldn’t quite describe.

From inside the house, the kid’s parents rushed out, quickly kicking the ball away and slamming the door shut.

“How many times have I told you not to play with that monster? What if he accidentally kills you?”

“Honestly!”

The sound of scolding echoed behind him, along with cautious, wary gazes from those nearby.

But Gaara couldn’t care less.

He looked at the sand floating above his hand and smiled faintly. “They’re nothing but helpless sheep.”

---

Meanwhile, Gaara’s uncle, Yashamaru, was summoned to the Kazekage’s office.

“Lord Kazekage,” Yashamaru greeted respectfully.

“You’re here.”

Rasa looked at his brother-in-law, who resembled his late wife so much, and spoke calmly, “I think you already know why I called you here.”

Yashamaru froze slightly. Though he had guessed the reason before arriving, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt when it was confirmed.

“Lord Kazekage, is this really necessary?”

His eyes reflected a hint of pleading.

But Rasa remained unmoved. “Yashamaru, are you hesitating to give up your life?”

“No!” Yashamaru immediately denied it. “I just think this is too cruel for a child...”

Rasa slowly closed his eyes. “Yashamaru, from the moment Gaara became a Jinchuriki, he stopped being a child. He became the Hidden Sand Village’s most important weapon.”

“As a weapon, we must test his stability to confirm his value. A qualified weapon doesn’t need emotions. Do you understand?”

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 124: Gaara's "Love"

"Recently, Gaara has been spending a lot of time sitting on the rooftop."

Kankuro spoke in a hushed tone to his sister, Temari, as they both looked at their younger brother, who was still on the rooftop late into the night.

"Yeah, I wonder what’s going through his mind."

As the eldest sibling and due to her naturally bold personality, Temari was much braver than Kankuro.

"Let’s go up there and check on him."

"Huh?"

Kankuro was about to refuse but was already being dragged up to the rooftop by Temari.

Even so, as bold as Temari was, she still couldn’t completely hide a hint of nervousness when facing Gaara.

"So, Gaara, what are you looking at up here?" Temari asked, trying her best to sound casual.

This was already the limit of her courage. After all, she and Kankuro had personally witnessed Gaara's sand tear villagers apart more than once.

Under the shadow of such memories, it was a miracle she even dared to talk to him.

Gaara turned to face her and replied faintly, "I’m looking at the moon, the night sky… and the sheep pen."

Temari froze.

The moon and the night sky made sense to her, but what was this about a sheep pen?

She glanced at Kankuro, who looked equally bewildered and shook his head. There was clearly no sheep pen on the rooftop.

Not wanting the situation to become awkward, Temari forced a smile. "Well… the moon does look nice tonight."

Gaara glanced at her. Due to his upbringing and experiences, his heart was incredibly sensitive.

It was precisely because of this sensitivity that he could detect Temari’s careful, hesitant affection toward him.

"You’re actually more curious about the sheep pen, aren’t you?" Gaara said bluntly.

Temari, caught off guard, hesitated for a moment before nodding. "So, Gaara, what do you mean by 'sheep pen'?"

Gaara stood up and faintly smiled. He pointed toward the village, shrouded in darkness.

Temari thought he was trying to show her the sheep pen and squinted to see, only to say, "It’s too dark. I don’t see any sheep pen at all."

"There is no sheep pen."

"Huh?"

Temari started to think her brother was acting strange tonight.

Gaara closed his eyes and said softly, "The entire village… is the sheep pen."

Temari and Kankuro exchanged a look of confusion.

Clearly, they didn’t understand what Gaara meant.

Gaara didn’t bother explaining further. He wasn’t surprised by their confusion.

If they hadn’t experienced it themselves, how could they possibly understand the words of the shopkeeper?

The rooftop fell silent. Seeing no further point in staying, Temari and Kankuro left.

"We’re heading to bed. Don’t stay up too late, Gaara," Temari said as she left.

"Okay."

Gaara could sense that his siblings did have a sliver of familial affection for him.

However, due to fear and their father’s warnings, they never dared to get too close.

But ultimately, they were just two more sheep in the flock.

Like the other villagers, they lacked the courage to face the beast.

Shortly after Temari and Kankuro left, a figure silently appeared on the rooftop.

Suddenly, several kunai flew through the air toward Gaara, slicing through the wind with a sharp whistling sound.

Hearing the attack, Gaara turned his head, but his sand had already reacted first, effortlessly blocking the kunai.

Attacks like this had long ceased to surprise him.

Yet, for some reason, this time, a wave of anger stirred within him.

Why did these sheep always think they could kill the beast?

The attacker wasn’t deterred when their kunai was blocked. Instead, they sped up and charged directly toward Gaara.

Gaara didn’t understand.

He couldn’t comprehend why people kept coming, one after another, trying to kill him—knowing full well they were marching toward their deaths.

Raising his hand, Gaara summoned a torrent of sand that surged forward like a tidal wave, instantly enveloping the attacker. There was nowhere to escape.

A cold glint of killing intent flashed in Gaara’s eyes. With a heavy squeeze of his palm, the sand tightened around the attacker, slicing into them like countless blades and leaving behind deep, gaping wounds.

Blood spread through the sand.

However, just as Gaara was about to finish off the attacker, his pupils suddenly trembled uncontrollably.

He had seen something.

On the attacker’s hand were visible bandages—bandages that looked familiar.

Gaara’s heart pounded as he stared at the motionless figure before him. With trembling hands, he reached forward and ripped off the attacker’s mask.

What he saw shook him to his core.

The face beneath the mask bore a striking resemblance to his mother’s—delicate features and soft blond hair that fell as he pulled.

Gaara’s entire body trembled. His pupils quivered. Tears welled up in his eyes, uncontrollably spilling onto the sand below.

"Why… why…?"

His voice shook as he struggled to comprehend.

"Uncle… why? Why would you do this?"

Gaara’s voice broke as he desperately tried to make sense of it all. "Was it Father? Did Father order you to kill me?"

Clinging to the hope that his father’s cruelty was to blame, Gaara looked to his uncle for confirmation.

But Yashamaru crushed that final thread of hope.

"Gaara… it was all a lie. Everything… was a lie…"

Blood poured from Yashamaru’s mouth as he spoke his final words.

"My kindness to you was all an act. I always hated you. If it weren’t for you… my sister would still be alive…"

Yashamaru’s eyes were filled with resentment and longing as he stared at Gaara.

"I will never… forgive you!"

Those were Yashamaru’s last words. His body fell to the ground, lifeless.

The sound echoed like a hammer against Gaara’s heart.

His final shred of hope shattered.

So, everyone really did hate him. Every bit of kindness was just a lie.

Gaara wiped away his tears. A thread of sand lifted and etched a bright red “愛” (love) onto his forehead.

Cracks began to spread across him, both inside and out.

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 125: *Two Slices of Bread and Cheese*

Cracks began to spread from the "Love" character that Gaara had just carved.

He seemed like a vessel filled with dark malice, finally shattering. A terrifying aura burst out of his body through the cracks.

Misfortune once again descended upon this village, surrounded by a vast desert.

Crimson chakra continuously oozed from Gaara as the One-Tailed Shukaku inside him reveled in its frenzy.

Not far away, Rasa observed the scene and immediately sensed something was wrong. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of disappointment flashing across them.

"Looks like Gaara still isn't capable of being a weapon. If that's the case..."

As always, Rasa raised his arm without hesitation. His Magnet Release chakra controlled the hidden gold sand beneath Sunagakure, which erupted with sealing power, surrounding Gaara to suppress his imminent rampage.

This single move halted Gaara's transformation into the tailed beast.

The seals embedded in Gaara's body would resonate with external sealing techniques, allowing Rasa to suppress Shukaku once again easily.

This was Rasa's confidence—his boldness to repeatedly test the limits of Gaara and Shukaku.

To him, with the seals on Gaara's body, the One-Tail was nothing to fear.

Inside Gaara, Shukaku immediately changed its expression upon feeling the sealing force coming from the outside.

The sealing power resonated, forming a massive golden pyramid ready to press down on Shukaku.

Shukaku let out a sharp screech. "You damned brat! It’s your turn to step in!"  

"I know, I know—don't rush me."  

Kaneki’s figure emerged from within Gaara. Adjusting his glasses with a calm push, massive tentacles surged from behind him and held the falling pyramid firmly in place.

Next, the tentacles released a torrent of dark, foul-smelling blood, which quickly seeped into the seals Rasa had prepared so carefully.

Kaneki had spent time researching these seals and now understood them well.

After all, Rasa's seals were primarily designed to prevent the tailed beast within the Jinchūriki. If someone from the outside disrupted them, they could be broken more easily.

With Shukaku's full power clashing and Gaara's own destructive impulses, breaking the seal wasn't too difficult.

However, the most critical task was stopping Rasa from reinforcing the seal.

Thus, another Kaneki appeared directly in front of Rasa.

Rasa's expression darkened as he looked at the man wearing a tiger-patterned mask.

This was bad.

They were standing at the heart of Sunagakure—its most secure area. Any outsider would need to pass through multiple layers of security to get here. Yet this man had appeared effortlessly, and Rasa hadn’t sensed his presence at all.

"To ignore your son's suffering and feel disappointed that he can't become a cold-blooded weapon..."  

"Compared to the tailed beast, it seems you're even colder, Lord Fourth Kazekage."  

"Is this what it means to be a Kazekage?"  

Kaneki spoke mockingly, his voice dripping with ridicule.

Rasa immediately retorted coldly. "What would you know? Since Gaara is the Kazekage's son, he must be prepared to sacrifice everything for Sunagakure!"  

"Even if it means becoming an emotionless, unfeeling machine?" Kaneki countered.

"Of course!" Rasa replied without hesitation. "Only a calm, cold weapon can fully harness the power of a tailed beast to better protect the village!"  

"Sacrificing others for the sake of the village—what a disgusting philosophy." Kaneki’s voice was laced with disdain as he hid behind his mask.

Rasa snorted in response, glaring at the masked man. "Who are you?"  

Kaneki adjusted his mask, his tone suddenly lighter and more animated. "I am the messenger of the Jashin-sama, the great lord's emissary walking among mortals, and his most loyal follower—'Afei!'"  

Jashin Cult?

The mention of “Jashin” instantly made Rasa more alert.

If he remembered correctly, several months ago, a group claiming to be followers of the Jashin Cult had destroyed Yugakure.

Now they wanted to target Sunagakure? Did they think one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages could be compared to some small village like Yugakure?

The arrogance made Rasa furious.

But anger wouldn’t solve the problem. The priority now wasn’t dealing with this masked man—it was resealing Shukaku before its full rampage could destroy the village.

Throughout their conversation, Rasa continued manipulating his chakra, and the golden sand rose once again, ready to entrap Gaara completely.

Of course, Kaneki noticed this subtle move. He gave Rasa a playful warning: "Kazekage-sama, it’s very impolite to make sly moves during someone’s self-introduction."  

With that, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

"Boom!"  

A deafening explosion shook the area, and the powerful shockwave shattered the golden sand. The fragments scattered like a chaotic tide, smashing nearby buildings into rubble.

The once-prized gold sand had become an instrument of destruction, paving the way to hell.

The violent aura around Gaara intensified, sweeping across Sunagakure like a storm.

Countless shinobi woke from their slumber, hastily grabbing their equipment and rushing toward the village center.

With the golden sand destroyed, the external sealing power vanished. Inside Gaara, Shukaku let out a piercing cheer.

The next moment, Gaara’s small body swelled rapidly. Sand surged out of him like a flood, and a colossal beast as massive as a mountain descended upon Sunagakure!

"Damn it!"  

Seeing this, Rasa made one last desperate attempt. Before Shukaku could fully manifest, he used the Body Flicker Technique to bypass Kaneki and dash toward the beast.

Unfortunately, he didn’t notice the pale insects crawling on his robe.

"Careful, Kazekage-sama," Kaneki warned cheerfully.

A moment later, Rasa was engulfed in a fiery explosion.

Not only that, but explosions erupted across Sunagakure, their thunderous roar throwing the entire village into chaos.

Of course, simple explosive insects couldn’t defeat Rasa, a powerful shinobi who bore the title of Kazekage.

At the moment of impact, Rasa encased himself in gold sand, minimizing the damage.

But Kaneki’s objective had already been achieved.

Under an assault from both inside and out, the fully manifested Shukaku descended upon Sunagakure!

---

(End of Chapter)