In a corner of Sunagakure, there once stood a prosperous temple, rivaling the Fire Temple of the Land of Fire. During the era of the Second Kazekage, the temple's monks were dispersed, leaving only a single monk behind. With formidable strength, the Second Kazekage sealed the One-Tail, Shukaku, within this monk.
The temple became Sunagakure's prison.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, walked slowly into the depths of the temple. Guards hurried over to stand before the new Kazekage.
"Lord Kazekage! The old monk Shukaku shows no abnormalities!"
Hearing the guard's report, Rasa thought to himself that these guards didn't even know the old monk's name, thinking 'Shukaku' was his name.
From the Second Kazekage's time to now, over thirty years had passed. The old monk, Bunpuku, had perfectly sealed Shukaku—so perfectly that the village had forgotten the fear once inspired by the beast.
Thinking of the Second Kazekage, Rasa's heart filled with admiration. Only by sitting in the Kazekage's seat could one understand that man's terror and power. Creating puppetry, sealing the One-Tail, developing Magnet Release secret techniques—that was Sunagakure's peak era.
Over thirty years later, Sunagakure had regressed, not progressed. The village's strongest abilities were still puppetry and Magnet Release secret techniques. Forget about advancing Sunagakure further; right now, Rasa couldn't even control a few advisors. Chiyo and Ebizō gave him headaches. The rising star, Pakura, wasn't easy to deal with either.
Rasa said to the guard, "The master's name is not Shukaku. From now on, address him as Master Bunpuku."
"Huh?" The guard was astonished. He had been guarding here for five years and this was the first time he'd heard the old monk's name. "Yes, Lord Kazekage. We will address the master as Master Bunpuku from now on."
Rasa walked to the cell door. Through the iron bars over twenty meters high, he saw Bunpuku sitting withered within. Bunpuku's beard was long and white, almost dragging on the ground.
Bunpuku opened his eyes and saw the Kazekage in ceremonial robes outside. He hadn't seen this Kazekage before; he was a young man. He wondered what had happened to the Third Kazekage.
Rasa spoke first: "Master Bunpuku, I have brought the Shukaku Tea Kettle. I wonder if you know the sealing technique for it."
As soon as Rasa finished speaking, a sharp laugh echoed through the prison. "Ohohohoho! Old monk! They think you're too old! They're going to discard you! They've imprisoned you for over thirty years! Don't you hate them?!"
Rasa stared at Bunpuku's abdomen. Shukaku could project its voice into the real world? Was the seal loosening?
Bunpuku noticed the Kazekage's gaze and explained, "My seal is fine. It's just that I take pity on Shukaku and sometimes let its consciousness out."
Rasa was taken aback. Was Bunpuku's control over Shukaku already this strong? Unheard of—being able to release only Shukaku's consciousness.
Bunpuku said, "Let me see the tea kettle."
Rasa took out a scroll, unsealed it, and produced the tea kettle. Sand appeared on the ground, gathering into a bestial arm that grabbed the kettle and pulled it back into Bunpuku's embrace.
Rasa thought to himself, Master Bunpuku has sealed Shukaku for decades without ever leaking its chakra. It seems he has mastered some of Shukaku's abilities. Looking at Bunpuku's hunched back, his frail appearance that seemed like he might fracture just sitting there, Rasa felt a twinge of regret. If Bunpuku were twenty years younger—no, even ten years younger—he would have tried to have him take to the battlefield. But Bunpuku was too old now. Over eighty years old, he couldn't withstand the pressures of war. It was better to proceed with his plan: seal Shukaku into the tea kettle and then throw the kettle onto the battlefield.
Rasa said, "Master Bunpuku, the Third Kazekage is missing. War is coming soon. Sunagakure must use the power of the Tailed Beast like the other villages. Kumogakure has produced a perfect Jinchūriki who can freely use Tailed Beast chakra. Iwagakure's Jinchūriki has used Tailed Beast Balls on the battlefield multiple times. Konoha's Jinchūriki has even fought Hanzo, and Hanzo suffered significant losses. But our Sunagakure's Tailed Beast is still stuck at the stage of being well-sealed with no chakra leakage. Master Bunpuku, saying this is cruel to you... but Sunagakure must attempt to control Shukaku as a weapon."
Bunpuku lifted his head and stared at Rasa for over ten seconds. Seeing the young Kazekage unflinching, Bunpuku lowered his head again. What could he do? He was too old. He had built a friendship with Shukaku over decades, but the village didn't need friendship. The village needed a weapon, combat power—things he could no longer provide.
Rasa patiently waited for Bunpuku's response.
Bunpuku closed his eyes slightly and entered the sealed world within.
"Shukaku, I am going to die..."
"Ohohohoho! You're not dying; you're finally being set free!" Shukaku was very excited. "You were a high monk as renowned as the Fire Temple's High Monk Kaigyō, yet you became a prisoner along with me! Years ago, the guards said High Monk Kaigyō died suddenly. I never thought you'd outlive him. And now, you can't even remain a prisoner. Sunagakure has grown tired of you. As a human, you're even less valued than me, a beast!"
Bunpuku looked down at the two characters in his palms: 'Heart' and 'Receive'. He said slowly, "Shukaku, there's no need to dwell on who is human and who is beast. We have coexisted for over thirty years. If not friends, we are at least companions. Whether human or beast, we all yearn for companionship, for bonds, for love. Shukaku, one day, you will find someone who can understand and accept you, and whom you can understand and accept in return."
Shukaku looked at this pitiful old man, thinking how stubborn he was. His hopes were just like the old man, the Sage of Six Paths. Yet, for over a thousand years, Shukaku had never encountered a Jinchūriki he could acknowledge.
Shukaku said, "I admit you're a bit like the old man. However, the Sunagakure you belong to runs completely counter to your ideals. Don't start asking me to take care of Sunagakure after you die. You know I won't agree."
Bunpuku lowered his head and clasped his hands together. The characters 'Heart' and 'Receive' combined to form 'Love' (爱).
Bunpuku said, "I can only accompany you this far, Shukaku. I hope you will meet someone in the future who can dissolve the hatred in your heart. As for what happens after I die, I cannot control it."
Seeing Bunpuku remain silent for a long time, Rasa said, "The Third Kazekage's disappearance was very sudden; many things were left unaddressed. I read in the secret scrolls that the Shukaku Tea Kettle can also perfectly seal Shukaku. The sealing technique for the kettle has been lost. Master Bunpuku, I wonder if you know this precious sealing technique?"
A new sand hand appeared beside Bunpuku, pushing the tea kettle back outside the cell bars. He said, "I know the tea kettle sealing technique, but..."
Rasa thought Bunpuku was about to make some condition. Whatever it was, Rasa would agree. Shukaku was too precious for the weakened Sunagakure. Rebuild the Wind Temple? Take care of Bunpuku's disciples or grand-disciples? He could agree to anything.
"...but," Bunpuku said, "this kettle is not called the Shukaku Tea Kettle. It is called the Bunpuku Tea Kettle. It was a container I made with the Second Kazekage back then, as a backup in case sealing Shukaku into a person failed."
Rasa was stunned. He had just criticized the guard for not knowing Master Bunpuku's name, yet he himself didn't know the kettle's true name.
"My apologies, Master Bunpuku."
***
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(End of Chapter)