Shukaku existed within Gaara's body as a "Spirit Medium" type of seal. This specific type of sealing meant that the Jinchuriki could never sleep; if they did, the beast's soul would fully awaken and take control.
Historically, the legendary irritability and madness of the One-Tail Jinchuriki were rooted in this sleep deprivation.
Normally, the host's spirit suppresses the Tailed Beast, but the moment the host drifts off, the medium-state Shukaku awakens.
The reason the Sand Village used this "Spirit Medium" seal was that Shukaku's own mastery over sealing jutsu was incredibly high, making traditional sealing methods ineffective at restraining it.
Furthermore, the Hidden Sand's sand-manipulation techniques—especially the Magnet Style of the three Sand lineages—actually originated from studying and modifying Shukaku's innate abilities.
Gaara was still just an infant, the most unstable period for a Jinchuriki. Consequently, Lady Chiyo or Rasa had to be constantly at his side to suppress the rampaging beast, lest a catastrophe occur.
This was precisely why Shiraishi had been so opposed to turning such a young child into a Jinchuriki; it was impossible for an infant to perfectly control Shukaku's power.
"Brat, you've truly enraged me!"
Being looked down upon by a human sent Shukaku into a state of bristling fury. Shiraishi, however, didn't waste breath on words.
His hands blurred through hand signs, and in an instant, a massive wave of metallic Silver Sand surged forward, striking toward Shukaku.
"Wind Style: Air Bullets!"
A massive sphere of wind energy shot forth. Shiraishi reacted instantly; his rings fired out, creating a Dark Dimension hole.
The powerful suction of the void swallowed Shukaku's attack whole, neutralizing it effortlessly.
What kind of strange ninjutsu is this?
Being sealed for years had left Shukaku out of touch with the changing landscape of the shinobi world. Facing this generation's Kazekage for the first time, it encountered techniques it couldn't comprehend.
Space-Time Ninjutsu?
Though Shukaku appeared crude and violent, it was actually quite cunning. It stared at the rings on Shiraishi's hands, suddenly becoming cautious.
This human's attire marks him as the Kazekage, but I didn't expect this generation's leader to be so troublesome.
While previous Kazekage could use Magnet Style to suppress its power, Shukaku had never considered them particularly impressive. In contrast, this young Kazekage radiated a sense of genuine danger.
Even though Shukaku was currently in its manifested form, its berserk aura in the massive sealing chamber was becoming unbearable for the medical ninjas. Shiraishi signaled for them to withdraw, leaving only himself, Lady Chiyo, and two Sand Jonin.
The chamber was vast enough to allow a full-sized Shukaku to thrash around—a testament to the effort the Sand Village had invested in the Jinchuriki's containment.
With a thunderous explosion, Shiraishi moved. As he finished his signs, the Silver Sand coalesced into a gargantuan silver hand.
Under Shukaku's enraged gaze, the hand slammed down, pinning the beast's body to the floor.
The weight of the sand hand was immense, nearly crushing the breath out of Shukaku. It found itself unable to resist this overbearing physical power.
"Dammit! You think a mere—"
Before it could finish, countless needles formed from Silver Sand pierced into Shukaku's body. Using the same method he had employed against the Six-Tails, Shiraishi channeled electrical fluctuations through the sand, initiating a powerful Electromagnetic Sealing Jutsu.
A scream tore through the room as Shukaku's face twisted in agony. But Shiraishi wasn't finished. The silver sand transformed into five massive pillars that instantly impaled Shukaku, pinning him to the ground from every angle.
Shiraishi stepped onto one of the pillars, looking down at the beast with an indifferent gaze. "Are you convinced yet?"
"Stupid human! Don't even dream of making me submit!"
Shukaku was livid. Shiraishi's tone and look reminded it of a very hateful human from the past. The desert power around it began to boil again as it attempted to shatter Shiraishi's suppression.
Suddenly, a massive burst of lightning energy swept through the room. As a "Super Lightning Style" on par with his Blue Flames, the lightning struck Shukaku's body, causing the great beast to howl in pain.
This wasn't just a simple illusory lightning; its destructive power was terrifying, dealing both physical and spiritual trauma to the One-Tail.
"Are you convinced?"
Asking for the second time, Shiraishi increased the pressure. A massive sand pillar violently pierced through half of Shukaku's head.
His brutal efficiency left the other Sand ninjas standing by in stunned silence.
"Incredible... he suppressed Shukaku in a single exchange."
The Jonin guarding Lady Chiyo was nearly fifty years old. An elite Jonin who had stayed by Chiyo's side, he hadn't participated in the war against the Leaf and had only a vague concept of Shiraishi's true power.
While previous Kazekage could suppress Shukaku, none had ever done it so instantly. Both the Third and Fourth Kazekage had to pay a price in effort to control the beast.
But the Fifth Kazekage had beaten it into submission with raw, violent simplicity.
Faced with such a terrifying monster of a man, Shukaku could no longer hold its form and began to retreat. Little Gaara started to wail as he woke up, and the One-Tail's physical shape began to dissipate.
"Haha, I'm not playing with you anymore!" Shukaku jeered as it vanished.
As Shukaku retreated into Gaara's body, Shiraishi formed another seal. Countless special runes swirled around Gaara's stomach, forming a brand new Electromagnetic Quicksand Seal.
Deep within his consciousness, Shukaku discovered to its horror that it was still impaled by the five pillars. Countless tiny silver sand needles remained embedded in its spirit.
"So, are you convinced or not?"
Shiraishi's voice echoed in Shukaku's ears like a clap of thunder, turning the beast's face pale. The lightning strike from earlier, being a form of illusory lightning, had successfully interfered with Shukaku's internal mental world.
"I... I'm convinced..."
Reality was harsher than being a Tailed Beast. While it could technically be resurrected, Shukaku had no desire to die a pointless death. It chose to compromise.
Back in the real world, Shiraishi finished the second layer of the seal on Gaara. The guards looked at him with even deeper reverence.
"This seal won't hold forever," Shiraishi remarked. "My upcoming visit to Hozuki Castle in the Land of Grass is because I have news of Uzumaki survivors. Perhaps we can obtain specialized sealing techniques from them."
The Uzumaki clan's sealing arts were legendary, capable of perfectly sealing even the Nine-Tails.
"If there is news of the Uzumaki, then the Land of Grass is indeed worth the trip," Chiyo agreed. She had heard of Shiraishi's high-profile visit to Hozuki Castle and hadn't quite understood his motive until now.
Hozuki Castle stood on an isolated island in the middle of an inland sea within the Land of Grass. Its climate was similar to the Hidden Mist—an island isolated within a nation.
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