At the gates of the Sand Village, Pakura finally faced the village's leadership.
The village walls were built from thick-packed earth—over thirty meters thick. The entrance was nothing more than a narrow, towering slit carved through that mass.
Outside, the desert winds howled.
Inside, the air was calm.
Sand whipped through Pakura's hair and clothing as she stood before them.
Beyond the narrow passage, Rasa and the others stared at the teapot hanging at her side.
The Bunpuku Teapot rested at her waist like a satchel.
Rasa stepped forward.
"Pakura. Where did you seal Shukaku?"
"About four hundred kilometers from the village," she replied calmly. "He was hiding beneath the sand. I sealed him by chance."
Rasa extended his hand.
Pakura hesitated for only a moment—
then handed over the teapot.
Behind Rasa, Chiyo repeatedly signaled with her eyes, urging her not to give it up.
But Pakura did.
Rasa examined the surface.
Black sealing marks—standard for the teapot sealing technique.
But also… dark red markings.
Unfamiliar.
Before he could ask, Pakura spoke:
"When I studied under the Third Kazekage, I once saw a scroll in his office.
It recorded Shukaku's history. He even tested me to see if I had talent in sealing techniques.
Fortunately… I learned the teapot sealing method quickly.
Neither he nor I ever thought I would actually use it.
But now, I was able to help the village."
She paused.
"On top of that, I developed a Scorch Release sealing method. The two seals reinforce each other."
"I see…" Ebizo glanced at Rasa. "The Third Kazekage valued Pakura greatly.
She's a rare bloodline user.
It seems he even taught her Shukaku's sealing method.
That says a lot about his expectations."
He turned slightly.
"Fourth Kazekage, I recommend Pakura be promoted to village advisor."
Another advisor immediately objected:
"She hasn't experienced a great war yet. Promoting her now would be premature."
All eyes turned to Rasa.
He said nothing.
He simply stared at the teapot.
One minute passed.
Then—
"Pakura," he said, "you will lead the Teapot Sealing Unit.
You are the only one with practical experience.
The responsibility of maintaining the tailed beast seal… rests on you."
He had no choice.
Her sealing ability clearly surpassed his own.
Soon after, a jonin council meeting was held.
Rasa announced the formation of the sealing unit, with Pakura as its leader.
"As all villages prepare for war, we cannot remain idle.
If war begins, the sealing unit will deploy Shukaku on the battlefield—"
"Kazekage-sama!"
Pakura stood abruptly.
"I believe deploying Shukaku is unrealistic!"
Rasa froze.
This was his most important strategic weapon.
Every other village used tailed beasts.
So must the Sand.
Pakura continued:
"When I sealed Shukaku, I felt it.
Its hatred toward the village runs deep.
It was imprisoned for over thirty years—never seeing daylight.
It told me clearly: next time it's free, it will attack the village at all costs."
Murmurs spread through the room.
She pressed on:
"If we release Shukaku on the battlefield, there's no guarantee it will attack Konoha.
It may simply return to the desert.
Or worse—
it may turn on us and destroy the Sand Village."
Silence.
Then whispers.
They all understood.
Who wouldn't harbor hatred after decades of imprisonment?
Rasa's eyes flickered coldly—but only for a moment.
An advisor stepped in:
"Shukaku is still our strongest weapon.
If there's risk, then we manage it.
Pakura—you will devise a plan.
Test whether Shukaku truly acts as you claim.
If it does, then negotiate… or threaten.
Make it understand: cooperation is its only path.
Otherwise, we will seal it forever."
Pakura had no choice.
She accepted.
But as she sat back down, her gaze drifted toward the window.
She would delay.
Delay as long as possible.
If the Sand Village missed the timing of the war—
that would be best.
She had seen Fox's strength.
Even a four-village alliance…
was no guarantee against Konoha.
Ten days later, under increasing pressure from Rasa, Pakura led the sealing unit and Anbu far outside the village.
Among them was a young shinobi, witnessing a tailed beast for the first time.
The moment the seal was released—
A massive sand tanuki erupted from the teapot.
Dozens of meters tall.
Its roar tore through the night.
"I'M FREE!"
Shukaku howled wildly, reveling in its freedom.
Then it turned—
and saw the Sand shinobi.
Its expression twisted.
"It's you! Sand nin!
I lived in this desert for a thousand years—you're the invaders!
Why should you seal me?!
I'll kill all of you!
Wind Release: Air Bullet!"
The attack was catastrophic.
A massive sphere of compressed wind tore forward, flattening entire dunes.
Only Rasa's golden sand barrier saved them.
Then—
battle erupted.
Golden sand and desert sand clashed like tidal waves.
Tailed Beast Balls carved craters into the desert.
If this had happened inside the village…
half of it would have been destroyed in minutes.
Finally—
Pakura stepped forward.
She sealed Shukaku once more.
Afterward, a young shinobi quietly asked his father:
"Was Pakura's chakra always that huge…?"
His father frowned.
He had seen it clearly.
When she performed the seal—
the sheer volume of chakra was overwhelming.
Even after sealing Shukaku, though exhausted—
it was undeniable.
She had reached a terrifying level.
In that moment—
everyone understood.
Shukaku hated the Sand Village more than any enemy.
Without the tailed beast…
could they truly face Konoha?
Or would they repeat the tragedy of the last war—
where even Chiyo lost her family?
Doubt spread.
Preparation slowed.
The Sand Village's war momentum…
came to a halt.