From afar, Uchiha Natsuki stood on a rooftop with Rasa.
Rasa's body was somewhat stiff, but his eyes never left the distant figures of Yashamaru and Gaara.
Natsuki's Sharingan spun continuously, the tomoe of his Mangekyō turning.
Seeing the scene unfold in the distance, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Controlling Rasa on a platform of gold dust, he made him fly over.
"Step… step…" Footsteps echoed.
Gaara lifted his head and saw his cold-faced father, Rasa.
Gaara quickly lowered his head again, shrinking further into Yashamaru's embrace.
But Rasa, uncharacteristically, crouched down, pulled Gaara into his arms, and hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry, Gaara."
Gaara's whole body trembled. He violently struggled free from Rasa's embrace. "Father, what did you say…?"
Rasa stood in place, speaking softly. "It was never my intention to make you a Jinchūriki…"
"What is… a Jinchūriki?" Gaara, whose heart had just been soothed by Yashamaru's love, was now calm enough to speak.
From a distance, Natsuki rolled his eyes. What kind of education did Sunagakure have? Gaara was six or seven years old and still didn't even know what a Jinchūriki was.
No wonder he had suffered so much as a child. They hadn't even explained the basics of what he was. How did Gaara endure it all those years?
Oh right, Naruto also didn't know as a kid.
No wonder the two would become close friends later.
Still, Gaara's seal was far inferior to Naruto's.
Although the Nine-Tails' chakra influenced Naruto, as a child he had no idea he carried a Tailed Beast within him.
But Gaara, on the other hand, was easily manipulated by Shukaku. If he accidentally fell asleep, the beast would come out and start killing.
That was why Gaara had always believed himself to be a monster.
"A Jinchūriki is a person who has a Tailed Beast sealed inside them. And you, you are the Jinchūriki of the One-Tail, Shukaku."
Gaara clutched at his clothes.
"The monster inside me is called Shukaku? Why me, Father?"
Rasa nodded. "Because I am the Kazekage. It is my duty to protect the village.
"And you, Gaara, my most beloved child—among all your siblings, you are the most exceptional. Only you could control Shukaku's power. That's why I chose you."
Gaara clutched his head, wondering if he had misheard. Did Father just say he was his most beloved child, the most exceptional one?
"Then why… why did Father treat me like that before?" Gaara's eyes held doubt, hope, and fear—fear that his father might be lying.
Rasa continued stroking Gaara's head, hiding his expression. "The village is constantly in danger. If I had shown openly how much I valued you, it would have only made you more of a target…
"I'm sorry, Gaara. Can you forgive me?" Rasa pulled him into his arms once more.
Feeling this unfamiliar warmth, Gaara murmured, "Father, I don't blame you… It's my fault. I couldn't control Shukaku. I killed so many people."
Rasa's eyes flickered. "It doesn't matter anymore. That was Shukaku's doing. This time, I've invited someone from Konoha to help strengthen your seal. You won't have to suffer so much anymore."
"Really, Father?" Gaara's face lit up with joy.
He desperately wanted to sleep, but every time he did, Shukaku came out and killed people. He hadn't slept properly in years.
Rasa nodded. "Yes."
At the side, Yashamaru was overjoyed at seeing the reconciliation between Rasa and Gaara. Hearing Rasa's words, he felt even happier for Gaara.
"Kazekage-sama, when will the person from Konoha arrive?"
Rasa stood and looked behind him.
"I'm already here."
Uchiha Natsuki emerged from the shadows, his Sharingan slowly ceasing its rotation as his eyes returned to normal.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for greatly altering Rasa's life trajectory.]
Reward: Gold Dust, Sand Platform (one-time use).
Natsuki's heart leapt. He could fly now—though only once.
Wait… maybe there was a loophole here!
Rasa's body shuddered. He cast Natsuki a long, deep look.
Turning back, he held Gaara's hand and instructed Yashamaru, "Prepare the materials for a sealing ritual. Remember, don't tell anyone else—go alone."
Yashamaru paused, then noticed Rasa signaling toward the distant cliff where the village elders Chiyo and Ebizō lived in seclusion.
It was Chiyo, after all, who had insisted on making Gaara a Jinchūriki in the first place.
"Yes! I'll handle it right away!"
Even within Sunagakure, there was political struggle. This was something best kept hidden from Chiyo.
—
In a sealed chamber within Sunagakure, heavily guarded by ANBU on all sides, preventing any leaks.
Yashamaru had already prepared the sealing materials.
Having felt his father's care for the first time, Gaara clung tightly to Rasa's clothes, afraid that letting go would make it all disappear.
Rasa gave Natsuki a complicated look before gently patting Gaara's head.
After over a year of training, Natsuki had become well-versed in the Konoha-style Four Symbols Seal.
The Four Symbols Seal wasn't a single technique, but rather a whole series—ranging from blocking a summoning beast, to sealing chakra, to sealing a Tailed Beast, even up to the Fourth Hokage sealing the Ryūmyaku.
Every village had its signature sealing techniques, but true sealing specialists were extremely rare.
Studying fuinjutsu required enormous time, energy, and chakra—and talent. Without talent, one would waste countless years in the beginning.
During the Third Great Ninja War, no one had the luxury to devote time to something with little combat value early on. Chakra-rich shinobi were always put in frontline positions, not in fuinjutsu training.
Because of that, sealing arts had regressed across the ninja world. In many villages, sealing techniques were either lost or preserved only in texts without successors.
Once, there had been the Land of Whirlpools, home to the Uzumaki clan—masters of fuinjutsu, wielding it freely in combat. But because they stood out too much, they had been destroyed.
After obtaining the Uzumaki clan's chakra, Natsuki found that not only had his reserves increased to the level of "Chakra Tons," but his affinity with sealing jutsu had also grown.
Now, performing fuinjutsu came to him with ease.
But sealing a Tailed Beast required a massive ritual array to catalyze the process.
The materials Yashamaru brought were adequate.
Natsuki drew a massive Four Symbols Array on the floor, placing Gaara at the center. The boy looked timid, nervous yet full of expectation.
"Kazekage-sama," Natsuki suddenly spoke, "do you want to see Gaara's inner world?"
Rasa froze at the question, then slowly nodded. "If possible."
Natsuki beckoned him closer, placing Rasa's hand on Gaara's head.
With his father by his side, Gaara was noticeably less anxious, leaning into him for comfort.
Natsuki checked the formation carefully—no mistakes.
Planting his feet firmly, he rapidly wove hand seals. Dark runes glowed across his arms.
Placing his hand atop Gaara's head, the runes spread across the boy's body.
At first Gaara was afraid, but as he realized nothing painful was happening, he relaxed.
As the runes multiplied, the great array beneath them began to shine.
"Four Symbols Seal—activate!"
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