"Simu-senpai, according to the plan, do we need to release Shukaku first?"
Sasori asked with a note of caution. Releasing Shukaku carried undeniable risks. The beast might not cooperate as expected, especially here in the desert, which was naturally Shukaku's home field.
Regarding this concern, Simu appeared relatively unbothered.
"Don't worry. With your help, even if Shukaku truly wants to run, it won't be that simple."
Furthermore, the desert wasn't just Shukaku's territory; it was also the domain of the Third Kazekage. The Magnet Style possessed by the Third Kazekage had a powerful suppressive effect on Shukaku. Combined with Simu's own strength, the probability of a successful escape was slim.
Simu placed great importance on this experiment. If successful, it would yield immense benefits for his future research into Yin-Yang Style and Sealing Jutsu, significantly accelerating the progress of his three core projects. Consequently, to ensure the plan's success in sealing the divided Shukaku, Simu had used various channels to transfer another Blood Pool Clone and a human clone from other bases to prevent any accidents.
Seeing Simu so confident, Sasori said no more. This was Simu-senpai, after all. A mere One-Tail didn't represent a true threat; his previous words were intended more as a reminder than a warning.
Thus, the plan officially commenced.
Gaara's body slowly floated up from the Blood Pool.
"Mr. Shukaku, are you ready?"
Simu's voice, calm and tinged with a slight smile, echoed within Gaara's mental world.
Shukaku abruptly snapped its brown eyes open.
"Brats, give it your best shot!"
With that, tentacles wrapped around Gaara and brought him before Simu. He lifted Gaara's clothing, revealing an abdomen covered in a complex sealing formula.
Simu extended his palm, and pale blue chakra instantly surged from his hand. As he gently pressed his palm against the seal on Gaara's abdomen, a terrifying aura exploded outward. Following this aura, Tailed Beast chakra began to erupt frantically from Gaara's body!
This chakra was dark red, saturated with a violent and destructive energy. Simultaneously, the Gold Dust that had been suppressing Shukaku began to crumble. The beast could not wait to release its chakra and shatter the seal.
As the chakra erupted, the surface of Gaara's body gradually cracked and became covered in crimson chakra. With him as the center, an incredibly powerful shockwave burst forth, repelling all the surrounding sand and forming a massive spherical crater.
Since no one was suppressing it and Gaara's own consciousness was still dormant, Shukaku's unsealing proceeded smoothly. The chakra covering the Jinchuriki expanded rapidly. Accompanied by a horrifying aura, a mountain-sized monster descended upon the desert.
"This Great Me is free at last!"
The moment Shukaku was unsealed, it let out a roar. The intense shockwave made Simu's trench coat flutter wildly.
Simu adjusted his glasses. "In that case, we can begin performing..."
Before he could finish, Shukaku's mountain-sized tail descended from the heavens. A massive shadow instantly enveloped Simu and Sasori.
"The seal is already broken, and you still want me to go back? Dream on, brat!"
Accompanied by Shukaku's shrill shriek, the giant tail crashed down.
Naturally, this turn of events did not surprise Simu or Sasori. Before breaking the seal, Sasori had already summoned the Third Kazekage puppet as a precaution. The moment Shukaku launched its attack, Sasori controlled a vast amount of Iron Sand pre-buried in the surroundings. It rose from both sides like two closing giant hands to intercept Shukaku's strike.
"Boom!"
The collision between Shukaku's tail and the Iron Sand produced a piercing boom. The Iron Sand controlled by Sasori shattered into a rain of grit, while Shukaku was forced back several steps by the counterforce of the blow.
Seeing that its strike had failed, Shukaku attacked again. It condensed a massive volume of airflow in its mouth, hurling a Wind Style: Air Bullets (Renkuudan) fiercely toward Simu.
Such a high-speed rotating air bullet would likely leave an ordinary person a bloody mess with just a graze. However, Simu simply adjusted his glasses calmly. Standing beside him, Sasori once again manipulated the black Iron Sand to form a defensive wall. The friction between the airflow and the Iron Sand produced a scalp-numbing screech and countless flying sparks.
Seeing another attack blocked by Sasori, Shukaku immediately snarled in anger. "That annoying Magnet Style brat!"
However, it had no intention of staying to fight. Taking advantage of the lingering chaos from the Air Bullet, it turned and fled.
It was no joke. It was facing a guy who could go head-to-head with the Fourth Kazekage and escape successfully, plus a brat who could control the Third Kazekage. Summing it up, wasn't it basically facing both the Third and Fourth Kazekage at once?
Forget the fight! What it wanted was freedom, not a death sentence.
Shukaku bolted. Despite its bloated appearance, its escape speed was not slow at all; it truly lived up to the name of a "nimble fatso."
But Simu was certainly not going to let this 'good friend' who had betrayed their cooperation leave so easily. Just as Sasori was about to manipulate the Iron Sand to intercept, Simu pressed a hand onto his shoulder.
"Leave the rest to me."
Simu's voice was somewhat cold. While he had anticipated Shukaku's choice—after all, how could a dignified Tailed Beast willingly be split in two and sealed away—Simu understanding Shukaku did not mean he accepted this betrayal of their partnership.
Consequently, he was truly a bit angry.
Two massive summoning circles bloomed from his hands.
"Summoning Jutsu: [Greed], [Fear]."
In the next second, two equally sky-blotting figures appeared in the desert.
Greed maintained the form of a giant 'Demon Bogang,' but its body was blood-red and covered in countless human faces—believers chanting praises to the Lord.
Fear hovered in mid-air. Its massive eye gazed upon this filthy world in need of purification on behalf of the Lord, while the tattered fleshy wings behind it spread out like a slanted crucifix.
Sasori was stunned. As expected of Simu-senpai. Two randomly summoned creatures actually possessed sizes rivaling a Tailed Beast. Not only that, but the aura radiating from them was in no way inferior to a Tailed Beast.
The fleeing Shukaku also froze for a moment. It had no idea when the Shinobi World had gained so many summoning beasts of this scale. Regardless of whether it knew or not, Desire and Fear had already felt the Lord's wrath. On behalf of the Lord, they would descend heavenly punishment!