In the dark and silent spiritual world, Shukaku opened its eyes once again, staring intently at the figure that had quietly emerged before it.
Brat with the glasses, I advise you not to go too far. Otherwise, I don't mind informing Rasa of your existence. At worst, we'll both go down together! Shukaku spoke with immense rage.
However, due to its piercingly sharp voice, the threat sounded more like a common shrew shouting in the street.
Simu lightly adjusted his glasses and chuckled softly. "Mr. Shukaku, there is no need to be in such a hurry."
Hearing this, Shukaku nearly lost its temper. No need to be in a hurry? I am a dignified Tailed Beast after all! If you have the ability, let me out and fight me fair and square. What is the meaning of constantly using someone else's seal to absorb my chakra?
Good grief, not in a hurry?
From the beginning until now, Simu's figure appeared punctually every night after Gaara swallowed that damned Food Pill.
Using a Sealing Jutsu adapted from the Uzumaki Clan, combined with the seal left by Rasa, he plundered Shukaku's chakra.
After the theft, the energy was transferred outside via Blood Spirit Insects. The Black Beetles within the barrier would then feast upon it before transporting the Tailed Beast chakra to Simu's base in the desert for analysis and research.
Shukaku had endured this lifestyle for several months!
As a Tailed Beast created by the Sage of Six Paths, Shukaku was once a terrifying, majestic monster that everyone feared. Now, it had actually been turned into someone's power bank?
This was more than it could stand!
In response, Simu simply spread his hands slightly, his face showing no sign of apology.
"Mr. Shukaku, you don't need to play dumb in front of me."
A cold glint flashed across his glasses.
"You should have felt it. Every time I extract chakra from you, the seal left by Rasa grows weaker."
Upon hearing these words, Shukaku's expression instantly became serious.
Did you do that on purpose?
It had certainly sensed the loosening of the Sealing Jutsu. Otherwise, it would never have allowed Simu to keep absorbing its chakra; it would have long ago violently struck the seal to make Rasa notice the abnormality.
It could only be said that Tailed Beasts were not stupid.
Simu raised an eyebrow and chose not to answer the question. Instead, he said, "The time is almost right."
What time?
Shukaku frowned. This fellow was clearly young, so why did he talk in such riddles!
The corners of Simu's mouth curled up, and a light appeared in his eyes. "The time for you to leave this seal is almost here. In short, be prepared."
With that, the figure existing within Gaara's spiritual world instantly turned into chakra and vanished.
This chakra was naturally absorbed by Gaara's body and Shukaku within the spiritual world, helping Shukaku recover a bit of chakra in a roundabout way.
Looking at the empty dark cage, Shukaku suddenly remembered one thing: that guy didn't seem to have absorbed its chakra today!
It was actually a bit hard to get used to...
Shukaku lay on the ground, thinking gloomily. Could what that guy said be true? Is there really going to be an opportunity to break the seal and regain my freedom in the next few days?
It frowned. No matter how it thought about it, as long as that old geezer Rasa was around, even if it regained freedom temporarily, it would probably be sealed back immediately.
Unless someone could stall Rasa.
Could it be...
If it was that kid, he might actually be able to stall Rasa.
After all, he was a figure who could come and go as he pleased in the heavily guarded Hidden Sand Village. He possessed the bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan and could even break the Sealing Jutsu set by Rasa. Even as a Tailed Beast, Shukaku itself could not see through his true strength.
In that case, I'll prepare a little.
Thinking of this, Shukaku slowly climbed up from the ground and began to cultivate, recovering the chakra in its body.
As it cultivated, its originally shriveled beer belly slowly began to inflate like a balloon.
The next morning, Gaara opened his eyes to the sunlight and stretched comfortably.
Clearly, his sleep quality last night was quite good.
After a simple breakfast, Gaara headed out carrying a ball.
His sister Temari and brother Kankuro looked at each other in confusion. What was wrong with their younger brother?
Gaara went straight to the house of the child he had nearly killed yesterday and knocked on the door.
Seeing that it was the monster Gaara, the child who opened the door immediately tried to slam it shut. However, he found that no matter how hard he pulled, the door felt as if it were welded shut and would not budge.
He looked down and realized Gaara had already jammed the door with sand.
In that instant, he felt that aura of impending death from yesterday once again.
However, Gaara did not make any hostile moves this time. He simply dropped the ball at the child's feet.
"Returning the ball to you."
With that, Gaara withdrew the sand and left without looking back.
Watching Gaara's departing back, the child suddenly felt a strange sensation that was hard to describe.
Seeing this, the parent inside rushed out, kicked the ball away, and slammed the door shut heavily.
"I told you not to play with that monster! What if he kills you?"
"Honestly!"
Reprimands followed him from behind, accompanied by numerous watchful and wary gazes.
But Gaara no longer cared about any of that.
He looked at the sand floating in his hand and revealed a faint smile. "They are nothing more than a flock of sheep with no power to resist."
At the same time, Gaara's uncle, Yashamaru, was summoned by the Kazekage to the Kazekage's office.
"Lord Kazekage."
"You've arrived."
Rasa looked at his brother-in-law, who looked eighty to ninety percent like his late wife, and spoke calmly. "I presume you can already guess the purpose of calling you here this time?"
Yashamaru's body visibly stiffened. Although he had guessed Rasa's intention before coming, when the moment actually arrived, he couldn't help but feel...
Guilt.
"Lord Kazekage, is it really necessary to go to this extent?"
A hint of pleading appeared in Yashamaru's eyes as he looked at Rasa.
But Rasa remained unmoved and asked in return, "Yashamaru, do you value your own life that much?"
Yashamaru hurriedly denied it. "I just feel that this method might be a bit too cruel for a small child."
Rasa slowly closed his eyes. "Yashamaru, from the moment Gaara became a Jinchuriki, he was no longer a child. He became the Hidden Sand Village's most important weapon."
"As a weapon, we must test his stability to determine his value. And a qualified weapon does not need any emotions. Do you understand?"