After returning to Otogakure, Naruto handed over all the data and intelligence he had gathered to Orochimaru.
Shukaku was the first-ever Arrancar to be converted via the potion.
He had directly skipped the Gillian-to-Adjuchas evolutionary process and become an Arrancar possessing the power of both a Shinigami and a Hollow.
His strength had already surpassed that of an ordinary Shinigami or Hollow.
Naruto had originally wanted to stay for a few days to observe Shukaku's condition.
But considering his upcoming schedule, he decided against it.
After Naruto left, Gaara quickly used his authority as Kazekage to legitimize Shukaku's identity.
Freed from his seal, Shukaku was like a rabbit let loose, gleefully wandering through Sunagakure.
Though he had the appearance of a young boy, he walked with a swagger that would disown his own family.
"Hehe, I'm finally out! This time, I'm going to have all the fun I want."
"How strange. Where did this little kid come from? Gaara doesn't seem like such a caring person," Kankuro, who was following behind Shukaku, couldn't help but grumble in dissatisfaction. "To think that I, the dignified brother of the Kazekage, have to take on the job of babysitting a little brat. Ugh."
Kankuro looked utterly aggrieved, completely lacking in motivation.
Just a short while ago, Gaara had entrusted Shukaku to Kankuro and Temari.
He had asked them to take Shukaku around the village for a few days to get him familiar with the place.
"Isn't a simple task like looking after a child good enough for you? I quite like children, especially one as cute as this," Temari said, covering her mouth with her hand and chuckling softly.
Shukaku looked to be less than ten years old. His short stature, not even reaching an adult's waist, combined with his adorable and dazed appearance, made him instantly likable.
Especially the half-bone mask he wore on his face.
Instead of looking sinister, it actually added a touch of endearing goofiness.
"Oh my. If only my future child could be this cute," Temari couldn't help but say, cupping her face in her hands.
"Hey, hey, hey, you two idiots! What are you talking about? Hurry up and follow the great me," Shukaku's childish voice suddenly called out.
Kankuro and Temari looked over and saw Shukaku with his arms crossed, his head held high in an arrogant posture.
"You rotten little brat. Why are you as annoying as Gaara used to be?" Kankuro was so angry his face was practically contorted.
"What an impolite child," Temari said, though there was no anger on her face.
After all, compared to Gaara, Shukaku was just a difficult little kid.
"Wow! This looks fun! Give it to me!" Unsurprisingly, Shukaku soon appeared at a stall, staring longingly at a wooden carving.
Ignoring the stall owner's protests, he reached out and snatched it.
"Just give this to me. Remember, your Kazekage works for me," he said, smugly playing with the carving.
"Sorry, so sorry. Here's the money," Kankuro and Temari hurriedly paid, cleaning up Shukaku's mess.
Inwardly, they were cursing him out.
"How strange. Why is that little kid wearing a mask?" some of the stall owners whispered after Shukaku and the others had left.
"Even Lord Kankuro is looking after that child. Do you think… that kid could be the Kazekage's son?" one merchant asked mysteriously.
"How is that possible? Lord Kazekage is still so young. Hiss, but that little kid does look a bit like Lord Kazekage!! Could he be the Kazekage's younger brother?"
"That's actually possible!!"
Shukaku was oblivious to the villagers' discussions. At that moment, he once again tossed a trinket he had grown tired of onto Kankuro and began searching for his next target.
After an unknown amount of time, Kankuro finally snapped.
"Hey, you rotten little brat! Don't you go too far!!!" he roared, angrily throwing the trinkets to the ground.
Seeing his beloved toy being thrown away, Shukaku's eyes widened, and he looked furious. The expression was actually quite cute.
"You bandaged monster, are you looking to die?! How dare you throw away the great me's things!" Shukaku pointed a chubby little finger and demanded in his high-pitched voice.
"You rotten brat, don't think I won't touch you," Kankuro said menacingly.
"Don't try to stop me, Temari. I have to teach this kid a lesson today."
"Teach me a lesson? Hahahaha!! That's the funniest joke the great me has heard in years!!" Shukaku roared with laughter.
He lifted his proud head and said in his childish voice:
"Where's the training ground? Lead the way."
…
"I must be crazy, fighting a little brat." At the training ground, a now-rational Kankuro couldn't stop smiling bitterly.
Gaara had asked them to look after a child, and somehow it had turned into a fight.
The little brat was even talking about a duel.
This so-called duel must just be a ninja game, right?
Fine, fine.
I'll hold back a little, play along, and humor the kid.
Kankuro shook his head helplessly.
"Go for it, little Shu!!" Temari, on the other hand, was completely into it, cheering and shouting encouragement from the sidelines.
"Hmph, hmph, I'll definitely win," Shukaku said, wiping his nose, his heart full of anticipation.
After becoming an Arrancar, he found that many new skills had suddenly appeared in his mind.
Some were even more destructive than a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Unfortunately…
Kankuro's strength was not up to par.
He would have to hold back.
"Come on, brat! Eat this!" Kankuro made the first move, slowly throwing three kunai.
Thud, thud, thud. The kunai landed at least two meters in front of Shukaku.
"Scared? It's not too late to surrender," Kankuro sneered.
Shukaku: "…"
"Who do you think you're looking down on?" Shukaku rolled his eyes and extended his right palm toward Kankuro.
The next moment, a terrifyingly powerful energy gathered in his palm, forming an oval-shaped sphere of light.
"Cero."
Shukaku murmured, his face expressionless.
In the next instant, the sphere of light in his hand shot out as a beam.
The blinding white light made one's eyes ache.
The Cero carved a white trajectory through the air. The resulting air currents caused the ground below to crack and explode, sending sand and debris flying everywhere.
Kankuro, the target, felt as if his body had been plunged into a swamp, unable to move.
A fear that originated from his very soul rose within him.
In his vision, the white Cero grew larger and larger. The surrounding air distorted from the terrifying, boiling energy.
FWOOSH. The Cero grazed past Kankuro's body and struck the ground to his left rear.
BOOM! Endless light and heat erupted. A deafening explosion roared, and the blast zone formed a vortex, sucking away all the swirling dust and sand.
It left the air in the patch of land where Kankuro stood with an unprecedented freshness.
A massive mushroom cloud slowly rose, soon disappearing into the dust storm.
The entire training ground shook violently, and countless ninja instantly mobilized.
"Enemy attack!!!"
A sharp cry echoed over Sunagakure.
The entire ninja population of the village was in an uproar!