Boom! Boom! Boom!
Rasa was blasted out of the sand, cutting a pathetic figure.
Kawasaki leaped forward, striking Rasa squarely in the chest with his palm.
A massive sealing formula instantly spread across Rasa's entire body.
"A sealing jutsu?!"
Rasa was horrified. "You've sealed my chakra?!"
Grains of sand trickled from Rasa's face. This time, it wasn't a sand clone dissipating; it was the crumbling of his last line of defense, the Armor of Sand.
Kawasaki brushed the dust from his clothes and let out a breath. His chakra was still plentiful—a testament to the traits of the Uzumaki clan.
"Rasa, a pleasure to meet you. I am Kawasaki Uchiha."
Rasa's face was ashen. "I know who you are, Kawasaki Uchiha. What is your purpose here?" he demanded. "Haven't you Uchiha already left Konoha? Why come to the Land of Wind to cause trouble for our village?"
"Let me think."
Kawasaki once again produced a scroll, from which he unsealed a four-piece desert travel set. A table, a chair, a parasol, and a pitcher of cold tea. He poured himself a glass and took a long, satisfying sip.
"I have a question for you," Kawasaki said. "If you're so worried about the Tailed Beast losing control, why do you repeatedly provoke Gaara instead of reinforcing his seal?"
"How do you know our village's Jinchuriki is Gaara?!" Rasa's eyes widened in a mixture of shock and fury. While it wasn't a secret within Sunagakure, for an outsider to know this, and to call him by name, was another matter entirely.
Kawasaki tapped his head. He really was terrible at interrogations. "You're the prisoner now. Just answer my questions honestly."
Rasa snorted. "I have nothing to say!"
Kawasaki frowned. "Since you don't trust your own son to contain the One-Tail, why not become the Jinchuriki yourself?"
Rasa turned his head away, unwilling to engage with this lunatic any longer. Were all Uchiha this unhinged? If I, the Kazekage, became a Jinchuriki and lost control, what would happen to the village? Besides, making Gaara the Jinchuriki wasn't my idea to begin with.
Seeing Rasa's lack of cooperation, Kawasaki shrugged. "I'm guessing that as the village leader, you're afraid that if you became the Jinchuriki and lost control, there would be no one left to look after your people. Am I right?"
"You don't even trust yourself, yet you seal Shukaku inside your son and constantly 'test' him. Is there something wrong with your head?"
A tremor went through Rasa as he recalled the moments he'd experienced under the genjutsu. His lips moved, but no sound came out.
Kawasaki's patience wore thin. He grabbed Rasa, forced his head still, and pried his eyelids open. In Kawasaki's eyes, the Sharingan spun wildly, a vortex of crimson.
...
Within Sunagakure, a drunkard staggered down a street, bottle in hand. He nearly collided with a small, red-haired child walking toward him.
The man stumbled, barely catching his balance. He let out a boozy burp and yelled, "Watch where you're going, you little brat!"
The red-haired child slowly turned his head. His eyes were cold and lifeless, framed by heavy, dark rings.
A cold sweat broke out on the drunkard's skin. His eyes widened in terror. "You... you're..."
There it was again, that look.
Gaara's expression filled with hatred. His mind flashed with images of being bullied and despised by everyone.
"Get away from me! You monster!"
Why... why...
Blood vessels began to web across Gaara's eyes.
"Ah..."
A piercing scream tore through the air as the bottle shattered on the ground. A crowd of people rushed out at the sound of the commotion, only to see Gaara's retreating back.
"What happened?!"
"It's Gaara!"
"I thought he was..."
The news spread quickly to the Sunagakure leadership.
"The Fourth Kazekage's orders were clear. If Gaara loses control again, he is to be disposed of."
Yashamaru's eyes were filled with anguish. But this was not the first time Gaara had lost control. Sunagakure's budget had been repeatedly cut, and if word of this incident got out, the village's situation would only worsen.
If it must be so, then let me be the one to bear it all.
Having made his decision, Yashamaru stood up.
...
"It didn't work..."
Gaara sat on a railing, staring at his hands in helpless misery. Tears streamed down his face.
"Why am I the only one who turned into a monster like this?"
"What am I?"
Yashamaru's words echoed in his mind. "The medicine that heals the wounds of the heart is love."
"Yashamaru..." Gaara clutched his stomach, crying in pain.
He didn't notice the six kunai flying toward his back.
Thwip!
A torrent of sand erupted from behind Gaara, forming a dense shield that protected him completely. Startled, Gaara whipped his head around to see a masked Sand shinobi already throwing more kunai.
Why, why is it always me?
Gaara's face twisted into a snarl. Always!
With a wave of his hand, sand shot forward, rapidly enveloping the attacker. Just as the man was about to be crushed, a black shadow burst through the sand and pulled him to safety.
Bastard!
Gaara's face was contorted with rage. He splayed his small hand, and the sand accelerated. It nearly caught them, but the black shadow kicked the sand stream apart. With a few quick flashes, the two vanished from sight.
Gaara collapsed to his knees, his small body already low on chakra. He felt a tearing pain rip through him.
Who wants to kill me?!
Suddenly, a figure appeared before him.
Gaara looked up and saw Yashamaru.
Yashamaru was dressed in fresh clothes, his expression complicated. He pulled Gaara into a tight embrace. Gaara's heart immediately settled.
"Yashamaru, a Sand shinobi just tried to kill me." Gaara's small body trembled.
Yashamaru's expression darkened. He whispered, "I'm sorry. It's alright now, it's alright..."
Gaara asked through his tears, "Is it because I'm a monster? Is that why someone wants to kill me?"
Yashamaru gently stroked Gaara's head. "Don't think that, Gaara. There are people in this world who love you. Lord Kazekage, and I... we both love you deep in our hearts."
"My beloved sister gave her life for you... You are the continuation of her life, the most precious treasure in this world. I love you very, very much."
"Your mother gave birth to you because she loved you deeply. From that moment on, I wanted to stay by your side and watch you grow up."
"She named you 'Gaara'—a demon who loves only himself—hoping you would cherish yourself in the name of love and live a full life."
When Rasa had ordered Yashamaru to kill Gaara, Yashamaru had worried his late sister, Karura, would never approve. After years of being with Gaara, he understood that the boy's volatility came from Shukaku's influence; at his core, he was a kind child. Tonight, he had steeled himself for the painful task of assassinating Gaara, only to be saved at the last moment by Rasa himself, who told him he had found another way and the tests were no longer necessary.
Having faced what he thought was a final goodbye to Gaara, Yashamaru was overcome with emotion. He held Gaara tightly, unwilling to let go. Feeling Yashamaru's love, Gaara began to sob. But this time, they were not tears of pain, but of happiness.
...
Not far away, Kawasaki stood on a rooftop with Rasa. Rasa's body was somewhat stiff, but his gaze was locked on Yashamaru and Gaara in the distance. Kawasaki's Sharingan was active, the Mangekyo pattern spinning slowly. Seeing this scene unfold, he felt a sense of relief and controlled Rasa, making him ride a cushion of sand toward them.
Thump, thump!
The sound of footsteps approached. Gaara looked up and saw his father, Rasa, his face an emotionless mask. He instinctively shrank back into Yashamaru's arms.
To his surprise, Rasa knelt and pulled Gaara into his own embrace.
"I'm sorry, Gaara."
Gaara trembled and pulled away sharply. "Father, what are you saying?"
Rasa remained standing, whispering, "It was never my wish for you to become a Jinchuriki."
"What's... a Jinchuriki?" Gaara asked, his heart somewhat calmed by Yashamaru's affection.
From his vantage point, Kawasaki rolled his eyes. What kind of education did they provide in Sunagakure? Gaara was six or seven and didn't even know what a Jinchuriki was. No wonder he suffered so much as a child. If they didn't even teach him the basics, how was he supposed to endure those years? Then again, Naruto didn't know as a child either. No wonder they became best friends later on.
Still, Gaara's seal was far inferior to Naruto's. Although the Nine-Tails' chakra could influence Naruto, the boy grew up unaware of the beast inside him. Gaara, on the other hand, was so susceptible to Shukaku's influence that if he fell asleep, the beast would emerge and kill indiscriminately. That was why Gaara had always believed he himself was the monster.
"A Jinchuriki is a person who has a Tailed Beast sealed within them. You are the Jinchuriki of Shukaku, the One-Tail."
Gaara clutched at his shirt. "The monster inside me is called Shukaku? Why me, Father?"
Rasa nodded. "Because I am the Kazekage, and I must protect the village. And you, Gaara, my most beloved child..."
"Among you and your siblings, you were the most exceptional. Only you could handle Shukaku's power, which is why you were chosen."
Gaara held his head, feeling as if he were hallucinating. Did his father just say he was his most beloved and exceptional child?
Rasa continued to gently stroke Gaara's hair. "I'm sorry, Gaara. Can you forgive your father?" He pulled Gaara into his arms once more.
Feeling this unfamiliar warmth, Gaara mumbled, "Father, it's my fault. I can't control Shukaku. I've hurt so many people."
A flicker of something passed through Rasa's eyes. "It's okay. That was Shukaku's fault."
"Really? Father?" Gaara's voice was a mix of surprise and joy. He desperately wanted to sleep, but he knew that if he did, Shukaku would emerge and hurt people. He hadn't slept properly in years.
Rasa nodded. "Yes."
Beside them, Yashamaru was overjoyed to see Rasa and Gaara reconciling. Hearing Rasa's words made him even happier for Gaara. "Lord Kazekage, when will the person from Konoha arrive?"
Rasa stood up and glanced behind him.
"I'm already here."
Kawasaki stepped out from the shadows, his spinning Sharingan slowly returning to its normal state.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for significantly altering Rasa's life path.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Gold Dust, Sand Cushion x1]
Kawasaki was ecstatic. The ability to fly, even just once, was a huge win. Wait, there might be an opportunity to exploit here!
Rasa shuddered and gave Kawasaki a deep look. He turned, took Gaara's hand, and instructed Yashamaru, "Yashamaru, go and prepare the materials for the sealing jutsu. Remember, do not let anyone else know. Do it yourself."
Yashamaru paused for a moment, then noticed Rasa subtly glance toward a distant sand cliff. That was where Sunagakure's high council advisors, Chiyo and Ebizo, lived in seclusion. It was Chiyo who had insisted on making Gaara the Jinchuriki. The power struggles within Sunagakure meant it was best Chiyo didn't find out about this.
"Yes! I'll go at once!"
...
In a secret chamber within Sunagakure, surrounded by a large contingent of Anbu. The entire area was sealed off to prevent any information from leaking. Yashamaru had already prepared the necessary materials for the sealing.
Having received his father's affection for the first time, Gaara clung tightly to Rasa's sleeve, as if letting go would make this wonderful reality disappear. Rasa gave Kawasaki a complicated look before once again patting Gaara's head.
After more than a year of training in sealing jutsu, Kawasaki had mastered the Leaf's Four Symbols Seal. It was not merely a single seal but an entire system of fuinjutsu, capable of everything from blocking summoning beasts and sealing chakra to containing Tailed Beasts. Even the Fourth Hokage had used the Four Symbols Seal to seal the Dragon Vein.
Every village had its own sealing techniques, but shinobi who were truly proficient in them were few and far between. Mastering fuinjutsu was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and required enormous amounts of chakra. It also depended heavily on talent; without it, one could waste years in the early stages. During the past Great Ninja Wars, no one had that kind of time to spare. After all, sealing jutsu offered little combat power at the start, serving mainly as support. Those with powerful chakra were always preoccupied with more pressing matters and had no time to train in it.
As a result, research into fuinjutsu had all but stagnated in the current era. Many villages had even lost their sealing techniques, with only written records remaining and no one to pass them down. The Land of Whirlpools, once famed for its diverse and battle-ready fuinjutsu, had been destroyed for being too powerful.
After acquiring the Uzumaki clan's chakra, Kawasaki discovered that it not only increased his reserves but also gave him a natural affinity for sealing jutsu. He could now perform them with ease. However, sealing a Tailed Beast required a larger barrier to act as a catalyst. The materials Yashamaru had brought would suffice.
Kawasaki drew a massive four-symbols array on the floor and had Gaara stand in the center. Gaara was both timid and hopeful.
"Lord Kazekage, would you like to see Gaara's spiritual world?" Kawasaki asked suddenly.
Rasa, who had been standing with his arms crossed, paused before giving a slow nod. "If that is possible."
Kawasaki had Rasa come over and place a hand on Gaara's head. He scanned the area, confirming the array was correct. Taking a firm stance, he began weaving hand seals as ink-black symbols lit up on his hands. He pressed his hand onto Gaara's head, and the symbols crawled down his arm and onto Gaara's body. Gaara was frightened at first, but he relaxed when he realized the symbols caused him no discomfort.
As the symbols multiplied, the giant barrier on the floor began to glow.
"Four Symbols Seal! Activate!"
...
As the seal on the barrier flared to life, Gaara's eyelids grew heavy, and he fainted. The world before Kawasaki and Rasa warped, and they found themselves in another place.
"Damn you!"
...
A colossal roar instantly assaulted their eardrums. They stood in a desolate gray desert under a sky of roiling black clouds. The wind howled, whipping sand that stung like knives. The entire world was devoid of life.
In the distance, a fifty-meter-tall shadow was roaring with insane fury. Its voice was grating and manic.
"I'll be free! I'll finally be free!"
Shukaku's vocabulary was limited. It just kept roaring, the sound so powerful it made Rasa's ears ring.
Kawasaki glanced around and spotted Gaara huddled under a semicircular sand dune in the distance, his hands pressed tightly over his ears.
Rasa's face was grim. "Is this how Gaara lives every day?"
Kawasaki's lips curved into a sarcastic smile. "Indeed. Gaara traps himself inside a sand fortress. Others can't get in, but he can't get out. In an environment like this, do you think you, the great Fourth Kazekage, could maintain your sanity?"
Rasa's expression turned uglier. He clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms.
"What do we do now?" Rasa asked.
Kawasaki gestured with his chin toward Gaara. "You go comfort your son first. We have to deal with Shukaku head-on."
Rasa did as he was told. When Gaara saw his father approaching, a flicker of hope appeared in his eyes. He quickly reached out and grabbed Rasa's hand.
Rasa's heart ached as he stroked Gaara's head. "It's okay, Gaara. I'm here."
Gaara nodded blankly, his eyes welling with tears. The sand fortress behind him began to expand, forming a massive wall of sand. Rasa's face slowly materialized on its surface. Nestled in his father's arms, Gaara quickly fell asleep.
Rasa gently laid Gaara down and slowly stood up, his eyes turning ice-cold as he stared at the roaring Shukaku in the distance.
"Mr. Kawasaki, must we defeat Shukaku now?"
That was the first time Rasa had addressed him so formally.
Kawasaki gave a slight, amused wave of his hand. "This is Gaara's inner world. It's already chaotic enough. Are you trying to tear it apart completely?"
Rasa, who had been ready for a fight, calmed down. His goal had been achieved by showing Rasa the reality of Gaara's suffering.
"Leave the rest to me," Kawasaki said simply.
He clapped his hands together.
"Hah! Four Symbols Seal! Activate!"
Countless black sealing formulas erupted from the yellow sand. From above, they formed a gigantic four-symbols array on the ground.
Kawasaki's hand seals changed rapidly.
"Condense!"
All the black symbols shrank, spreading from the ground beneath Shukaku's feet and rapidly crawling up its body.
"What is this stuff?!" Shukaku's roar turned to one of utter terror.