Konoha – Sunagakure Delegation Quarters.
With Baki's team arriving, Konoha's ANBU immediately went on alert, keeping a close watch on them. If the Sunagakure shinobi dared to make any suspicious moves, they would undoubtedly face the ANBU's merciless attack.
Inside the guest house, Baki could clearly feel the watchful gazes surrounding them. Though inwardly frustrated, he dared not voice a single complaint.
After all, this was the result of Sunagakure's own doing.
Not long ago, they had been the ones to break the alliance first, launching an assault on Konoha. Fortunately, Konoha's casualties had been minimal, and the negotiations that followed concluded peacefully. Both villages had agreed to renew their alliance.
"Baki-sensei!"
Temari greeted him first before asking, "Why are you here?"
Baki looked toward Gaara. When he saw that Gaara's eyes now carried a faint spark of life that hadn't been there before, his heart filled with both surprise and relief.
This Gaara... finally looked like a real person.
"After the council's discussion, they've decided that your recent performance in Konoha has been satisfactory. They've ordered your return to the village."
Temari: ...
Gaara: ...
Kankuro: ...
Wasn't this a bit too sudden?
The three of them exchanged glances. Without words, they understood each other perfectly.
'Konoha really is the best...'
'Yeah, the food's great, the drinks are great, and even Shukaku's been quiet!'
'And the materials here are amazing—making puppets has never been easier!'
Of course, no matter what they thought, Sunagakure was still their home. As the children of the Fourth Kazekage, none of them could truly abandon it.
"Since it's an order from the council, we'll comply," Gaara replied calmly. "But I have one request."
Baki nodded. "Go ahead. As long as it's reasonable, I'll agree."
"I want to visit Kamizuki Hikari before we leave."
*Crack!*
The cup in Baki's hand shattered. Meeting Gaara's confused gaze, Baki forced a strained smile and tossed the broken cup aside.
"Ahem, may I ask why you want to see him?"
If it were before, when he hadn't known Kamizuki Hikari's strength, he wouldn't have worried. But things were different now. Who knew if that man would smack Gaara into dust with a single palm?
"It's about Shukaku. But if Baki-sensei doesn't approve, then forget it," Gaara replied calmly. He had learned to read people's moods—to be considerate.
"Fine." Baki sighed. "I'll come with you. Just in case."
After all, Gaara had matured, and Baki couldn't completely ignore his feelings. Besides, Kamizuki Hikari shouldn't go berserk again.
...Probably.
---
Kamizuki Residence.
The oppressive atmosphere made Baki feel like kneeling just to show proper respect to Kamizuki Hikari.
"Hikari-senpai!"
Sensing Baki trembling beside him under the crushing pressure, Gaara spoke up first, breaking the tense silence.
The mountain-like pressure vanished instantly. Baki, drenched in cold sweat, hurried to hide behind Gaara.
Hikari glanced at the cowering man, then ignored him entirely. His eyes turned toward the three siblings. "Judging by your faces, you're about to leave, aren't you? So, you came to say goodbye?"
Gaara stood up. "Hikari-senpai, I came here to say farewell... and also to ask for your help suppressing Shukaku."
Baki's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
He had the sudden urge to grab Gaara's leg and cry, 'Bro, do you have any idea who this man is?! You're asking him to suppress a Tailed Beast?! This is the guy who almost wiped out the Three-Tails!'
But as soon as he caught Hikari's cold, warning glance, Baki froze on the spot, not daring to move an inch.
*Shhh!*
Grains of sand began leaking from Gaara's left hand, swirling together into a miniature Shukaku.
"No! I don't want to be sealed! I want out! I want to have fun!"
"You idiot! Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused me all this time?" Gaara snapped, slapping the tiny Shukaku with his hand.
Shukaku blocked it with his claws, eyes darting pitifully toward Hikari.
"I don't want to be locked up like the Nine-Tails! How about I promise not to come out and disturb this brat's sleep?"
After being taught a few painful lessons by Hikari before, the One-Tail knew this man was not to be messed with.
If it meant a little more freedom in Sunagakure, he was more than willing to play submissive for now.
"So that's how it is?" Hikari flicked Shukaku's head lightly before lazily glancing back at Gaara. "Shukaku is not hard to handle. I'll just add a new seal for you. That'll keep him obedient."
"No! I protest! This is abuse! Cruelty toward Tailed Beasts! I demand freedom! I want to have fun!"
No one paid Shukaku's complaints any attention.
Temari, Kankuro, and Baki were all focused on Hikari's reaction.
"I went to the Land of Hot Springs not long ago," Hikari said casually, "and nearly wiped out the Three-Tails there. Baki should know about that. I suppose that's why your village elders are so eager to bring Shukaku back."
Baki stayed silent.
'If I agree, I might just get murdered right here.'
"You're leaving, and I won't stop you," Hikari continued. "Shukaku is Sunagakure's Tailed Beast; it's natural for him to return. But you'd better be ready. There are people in the shinobi world who want the power of the Tailed Beasts. With your current strength, protecting Gaara will be... difficult. Frankly, you'll be lucky if you don't end up needing his protection instead."
"We'll protect Gaara no matter what!" Temari declared firmly.
Hikari shook his head. "That's your business. I won't interfere."
Then he looked down at the tiny Shukaku. "If you still want to roam free in the desert, you'd better start working with Gaara. Build some trust between you two. When real danger comes, that bond might be the only thing that saves you."
The little Shukaku blinked its small eyes suspiciously. "You're not tricking me, are you? I'll have you know, Shukaku-sama has lived for over a thousand years! I'm not afraid of your empty threats!"
"Believe what you want."
Hikari raised his hand and pressed it lightly on Shukaku's head, forcing it back into Gaara's body in an instant.
"I've said what I needed to. No point talking more."
"From here on, it's up to you."
Without another word, Hikari placed his left hand on Gaara's stomach.
"Eight Trigrams Seal!"
Black sealing chains appeared, piercing through Gaara's clothes and imprinting themselves onto his abdomen.
The old seal was shattered completely.
"This new seal is under your control, Gaara. You can break it yourself to release Shukaku, but that means you'll have to fight him for control of your body. Unless it's absolutely necessary, don't do it."
This reinforced seal would let Gaara better wield Shukaku's chakra but at the cost of losing his ability to release Shukaku during sleep.
As with all things, there were gains and losses.
How he used it would depend entirely on Gaara himself.
----
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