As the only true adult and shinobi in the room, Yashamaru naturally became Uchiha Gen's first target.
The others only felt the aftershocks, but the impact on them was much the same.
Gaara, shocked to his core, twisted with agitation. His face distorted, spit dribbled from his mouth, and a guttural beast-like growl rose from his throat. Sand surged from nowhere, swirling violently around his body.
Yashamaru's face drained of color. "No… Gaara's losing control!"
Gen raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Oh? So this is your village's Jinchūriki. Hmph… and this sealing work—such a crude version of it."
Pakura rolled her eyes. "Enough sarcasm. Do something! If he loses control, innocents will get caught in it."
The sand whirled tighter, then in an instant, hardened into a storm of shuriken. With a sharp whoosh, hundreds of blades screamed through the air, all aimed at Gen.
Gen didn't even shift from his seat. His Mangekyō Sharingan spun, and in the same moment, black chakra rose like smoke, forming the jagged skeleton of Susanoo. Bone blocked steel—clang, clang, clang—while a massive spectral arm shot out, snatching Gaara before he could react.
"Brother!" Temari cried, panic flooding her face. Without hesitation she clenched her fist and charged straight at Gen.
Kankurō hesitated, torn, then grit his teeth and followed her lead.
Both were academy students, already counted among the strongest of their peers in Sunagakure thanks to their clan's bloodline and training. But against Uchiha Gen? Futile.
Gen still hadn't risen from his seat. A flick of his fingers, and the air thickened, invisible pressure twisting into ropes of chakra. In an instant, the siblings were snared, bound tight and helpless.
Pakura's mouth opened, her expression torn, but Gen cut her off with a sharp glance.
"When men are handling things, women should stay quiet." His voice was flat, edged. "If I wanted them dead, do you think they'd still be breathing?"
Pakura exhaled slowly and bit back her words. He was right. So long as no one was killed, this wouldn't explode into a war. She herself couldn't stomach striking down children and she knew if these three were harmed, the fragile alliance between Konoha and the Sand would collapse overnight.
But Gaara, seeing his siblings bound, grew more agitated. His chakra spiked wildly as he fought to unleash more sand. Yet he was still too young, too untrained—and Gen's power utterly dwarfed him. He couldn't break free.
"Lord Gen," Yashamaru pleaded, voice trembling as he dropped to his knees, "Gaara is only a child, warped by the Tailed Beast's influence. Temari and Kankurō were only frightened for their brother, they never meant to offend you. Please, in your generosity, forgive them."
He had held back from striking earlier not because of cowardice, but because he knew the truth—any attack on Gen would be meaningless. And he loved these children too much to risk their lives with a futile gesture.
"Get up." Gen's voice was calm, dismissive. "I'll say it again: I won't kill them. If Rasa hadn't schemed against my woman, I wouldn't even be bothering with children. Quarreling with brats is beneath me. Now, enough delays. Go fetch Rasa. Tell him to see me immediately."
"Yes—yes, Lord Gen." Yashamaru rose hastily, not daring to question why the Anbu stationed outside had yet to act, and hurried from the room.
Gen waved lazily toward the kitchen. "Don't just stand there. Cook. I'm hungry."
Pakura's lips pressed tight, her expression complicated. She had imagined this reunion with Gen as a storm of vengeance—but she hadn't expected… this. Still, she turned and began preparing a meal with the ingredients on hand.
Temari and Kankurō glanced at each other, wordless. This man wasn't only arrogant and domineering—he acted as though he owned the place.
"Enough struggling," Gen said, flicking his gaze back toward Gaara. His Sharingan glowed, and the boy dropped instantly into a Genjutsu-induced calm. But only for a heartbeat. Gaara's body jerked, and his eyes snapped wide again, shattering the illusion.
Not Gaara alone, inside, Shukaku was clawing at the seal, delighting in chaos, refusing to let the boy rest.
"So, you're going to oppose me?"
Gen's chakra surged, flowing into Gaara's body and plunging directly into the sealing space. His form took shape there, facing the looming beast.
Shukaku reared up, voice shrill and mocking. "And if I am? Don't think those spinning eyes make you a god. When I get out, I'll grind you into sand!"
Gen's lips curved into a cold smile. "Fine. Then wait. We'll see."
His chakra dissolved, pulling free from the sealing space.
"Tch, wait all you like," Shukaku muttered, his voice echoing. "Even the Nine-Tails never scared me. You think you will?"
Back in the real world, Gen released the bindings around the children. Their earlier defiance had been smothered, at least outwardly.
"Hey, you—kid, you alright now."
The boy shot him a glance, then dropped his head, silent.
"His name's Gaara," Temari said quickly, offering a small smile to ease the tension.
"In Konoha, there's another boy about your age," Gen said. "A Jinchūriki from birth, just like you. He lost his father… and you lost your mother. My wife and his mother are close. I know him well."
Gaara lifted his head slightly at that, their eyes meeting before his gaze sank again.
"Wait," Temari blurted. "Isn't Lady Pakura your girlfriend? And now you say you have a wife?"
Gen scoffed. "Idiot. Can't a man have both?"
Temari: "…"
Kankurō: "…"
Scumbag. The word echoed silently in both their minds.
Gen continued casually. "That boy's life is different from yours. No father, yes. But his mother, his elders, his friends, they all love him. He has people to play with."
Gaara's eyes widened, envy flashing sharp and raw.
Temari's heart cracked at the sight. She hurried to his side, patting his head gently, her smile bright and warm as sunlight.
Kankurō hesitated, then moved too, standing firm beside his brother, offering a smaller but sincere smile.
For the first time, Gaara felt a flicker of warmth, something fragile and new. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
Gen smirked. "See? They like you more than you realize. But those dark circles… You're not sleeping at all, are you?"
"Meanwhile, that brat Naruto—he snores through the night. His mom has to smack him awake every morning."
Gaara's envy deepened, his gaze haunted.
Temari and Kankurō exchanged helpless looks. This was beyond them, even their father had failed.
Gen leaned forward, eyes glinting. "Do you want to sleep soundly every night? My sealing can make that happen."
His smile spread, sly and dangerous. To the children, it looked disturbingly like an old man luring them with candy.
He chuckled darkly. "Heh. And if Rasa walks in to find his three precious kids serving me… his face will be priceless."