"Sensei… honestly, I don't really know myself…"
"I just know that I can't control my power very well, and whenever I fall asleep… terrible things happen…"
Kazuyama Gekkō looked at Gaara, the heavy shadows under the boy's eyes so dark they almost seemed bruised. The corners of his mouth curved slightly.
Months had passed since he'd begun teaching the three siblings, and by now, they had completely accepted him as their sensei.
The alliance between Konoha and Sunagakure had gone smoothly—so smoothly that trade between the two villages had already begun.
That evening, Kazuyama brought Gaara alone deep into the desert. He had come to meet Shukaku.
Normally, taking Gaara outside the village would have been impossible, given that the One-Tail resided within him. But this was Kazuyama Gekkō. If he wanted to take someone out of Sunagakure, it couldn't be easier.
"It's alright, Gaara. Trust your sensei's power."
"No more of this monster nonsense. From today on, you're just like any other kid. Eat when you're hungry, drink when you're thirsty, and sleep when you're tired. Sleep peacefully."
"Now close your eyes, relax your body, and leave the rest to me."
Seeing the sincerity in Kazuyama's face, Gaara hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
After all, these past few months had been the happiest he could remember. The feeling of being cared for by Kazuyama was something he had grown to cherish.
Because of his sensei, even Temari and Kankurō treated him better now. Even his father's attitude had softened…
"Alright, Sensei. Just… be careful."
"Don't lie directly on the sand. Unless you like it, I'll make you a bed."
As Gaara spoke, he closed his eyes. With a casual wave of Kazuyama's hand, a crystal lounge chair formed out of the desert floor. Gaara lay down comfortably upon it.
Kazuyama looked down at the boy and sighed softly.
In some ways, Gaara's childhood was the most tragic in all of Naruto.
As a fellow Jinchūriki, Kazuyama understood—before Yashamaru's assassination attempt, Gaara's life had been tolerable. But afterward, he became completely alone.
His father saw only the monster, his siblings feared him, and the villagers avoided him entirely.
But the worst of it wasn't the fear or the isolation.
It was that he couldn't sleep.
Unimaginable—never being able to close your eyes and rest.
Kazuyama had decided it was time to resolve Shukaku's issue. It was something he'd planned for a long time anyway. Every Tailed Beast was a potential ally in his eyes—because all of them shared the same cursed fate.
"Huuh…"
With Kazuyama's reassurance, Gaara quickly relaxed and drifted into sleep.
Almost instantly, a new, violent energy surged from his body—a chakra filled with savage, primal fury.
"He's finally asleep!"
"You little brat! It's been ages! I can't even remember the last time I got to move!"
"ROAR!"
As the One-Tail's chakra erupted out of control, Gaara had no means to resist it.
Kazuyama, however, showed no sign of panic. He calmly stepped back several meters, watching as Shukaku emerged before him.
Gaara's form vanished entirely, replaced by a massive tanuki covered in black seal patterns—Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast.
"Ah! Night! The moon!"
"Hmm? Wait… someone else?"
Shukaku's eyes landed on Kazuyama standing a short distance away.
For some reason, he felt a strange sense of familiarity, though he couldn't quite place it.
"Yo, Shukaku! Long time no see!"
Kazuyama began walking toward him, his chakra flaring stronger with each step.
Shukaku's gaze shifted, shock filling his enormous eyes. He could feel it—this man's chakra was rapidly rising, far beyond what any human should possess.
"Who are you? Still so arrogant in front of me?"
"Don't you know every fool who acts cocky before me gets buried in these sands?!"
"Sand… what…?"
Shukaku's taunting faltered. A moment later, realization hit—something was terribly wrong.
This human's chakra was already spreading, covering him completely. He could sense the sheer destructive force in it. The sand he had just gathered disintegrated into nothingness before his eyes.
"You really don't remember me?"
"Then maybe you'll remember if someone else joins the conversation."
Kazuyama folded his arms, his aura flaring even more intensely.
As Shukaku blinked in confusion, a familiar chakra signature suddenly appeared beside Kazuyama.
"Chōmei?"
"I remember now! You two bastards!"
The Seven-Tails, Chōmei, materialized beside Kazuyama in pure chakra form.
"Well, well, long time no see, big tanuki."
"How've you been since last time? Miss me? Hahahaha!"
The moment Chōmei appeared, he launched straight into mockery, instantly enraging Shukaku.
Without a word, Shukaku attacked.
"Don't be so hasty, Shukaku."
"What happened before was then. This is now. Don't mix the two."
"Sage Art: Crystal Release—New World!"
Kazuyama had no intention of letting Shukaku run wild. His goal wasn't to fight.
As the Sage Art activated, the air rippled with crystalline distortion.
Crystals erupted across the desert, surrounding them on all sides, each glowing faintly with Kazuyama's Senjutsu chakra.
Streams of light gathered across the crystal surfaces, releasing a crushing pressure that froze Shukaku in place.
"This human…"
"I'll admit, your power's impressive. But if you think you can force Lord Shukaku to submit—"
"Keep dreaming!"
"Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet!"
Shukaku, both startled and furious, unleashed a massive wind-infused chakra blast from his mouth.
Unfortunately for him, Kazuyama wasn't alone.
Without hesitation, Chōmei stepped forward to intercept. His response was simple.
"Insect Wings—Cleave!"
His massive wings hardened into chakra blades, slicing cleanly through Shukaku's Drilling Air Bullet with a single swing.
"Hmph! Enough talking!"
"I'm taking my revenge—DIE!"
Enemies meeting again—no wonder Shukaku had found Kazuyama's presence so familiar.
Wasn't this the same pair—the Seven-Tails and his human partner—who had defeated him years ago?
He had never expected to see these two bastards again after so many years.
Unforgivable. Absolutely unforgivable.
...
NEW NARUTO FIC: Parallel Ninja World: Which Naruto Will Leap Through Time Today?