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Sayo stood up, took one last deep look at the deceased elder who had imparted countless invaluable lessons and served as both a teacher and a friend, and resolutely turned to walk out of the Temple.
Outside the Temple, led by Fourth Kazekage Rasa, almost all high-ranking Village officials, including Chiyo and Ebizō, were present. More Anbu and Puppet Squad members were spread out, standing ready for battle. A tense atmosphere permeated the cold night sky, as if a single spark could ignite an explosion. The death of a Jinchuriki, the loss of control of a Tailed Beast, or even its capture by an enemy—every possibility was enough to worsen the already difficult predicament of the Hidden Sand Village.
"Sayo, you should be clear about the risks involved!" Rasa's voice sounded particularly cold and harsh in the night wind. "If Shukaku loses control, the Village will be the first to suffer! Its power..."
"Kazekage-sama," Sayo interrupted him, his gaze sweeping over every solemn-faced high official present. "I am not requesting permission; I am informing you of a decision. This is Bunpuku-sensei's final wish, and it is the promise between Shukaku and me."
He took a step forward, the night wind stirring the black hair on his forehead. His dark pupils shimmered with undeniable resolve under the starlit sky. "I understand your concerns. But I guarantee, by my honor, my strength, and the oath I make here, that I will handle all consequences. Shukaku will not become a disaster for Sunagakure. If there truly is an accident..." He paused, his voice utterly decisive, "I will personally be responsible for suppressing it."
His words contained immense confidence, a confidence stemming from his current unmatched prestige and strength within the Village—the huge contributions of the Research and Development Department, the oasis at East Sea Bay, the merit of defeating Kirigakure, and even the shocking display of fighting the Kazekage to a standstill recently (without even using his Sage Mode trump card). Rasa gazed at him, seemingly seeing the young man who had fiercely battled him in the desert and declared he would change the Land of Wind. Now, Sayo's figure was taller, and his conviction was even firmer.
After a long silence, Rasa's taut jawline relaxed slightly, finally softening into an almost inaudible sigh. Chiyo and Ebizō exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.
"...Go do it." Rasa finally said in a deep voice, waving his hand to signal the surrounding Ninja to step back slightly. "Everyone, initiate Level One Combat Alert, but no unauthorized actions without my command!"
Sayo bowed slightly, expressing gratitude and respect. Immediately, he walked back into the Temple.
He formed a complex Hand Seal, carefully beginning to undo the ancient seal that had been passed down for decades. Eerie light flickered as the runes faded and dissipated from Bunpuku's abdomen like living things. Bunpuku the Monk's breathing stopped completely at this moment, but his face was peaceful, as if asleep, even bearing a faint smile of relief.
The next moment, a massive, violent, hatred-filled surge of Chakra erupted!
"ROAR—!!!"
A colossal, tanuki-shaped monster made of sand shot into the sky, instantly shattering the Temple's dome, sending bricks, stones, and wooden beams scattering. Shukaku's massive body appeared under the moonlight. It roared towards the heavens, the sound waves rolling, filled with the ecstasy and release of finally gaining freedom after long imprisonment.
"I'm out! this lord is finally out! Hahaha!" Shukaku waved its short forelimbs. The Chakra storm whipped up sand and dust across the sky, and the terrifying aura caused the Sunagakure Ninja watching from afar to turn pale, instinctively gripping their weapons tightly.
Rasa's Gold Dust was already suspended around him, and Chiyo's fingers were hooked onto her Chakra Threads.
However, after a burst of maniacal laughter, Shukaku's massive eyes suddenly locked onto the small but familiar figure below—Sayo was standing quietly beside Bunpuku's peaceful remains, looking up to meet its gaze.
"Hey! Sayo, you brat!" Shukaku's voice boomed like thunder. "Seeing as you and that old monk were somewhat pleasing to the eye, this lord is in a good mood today, so I won't flatten your Village! Until next time, hahaha!"
It made a move to manipulate the quicksand, intending to leave this place that had trapped it for decades.
"Shukaku." Sayo's voice was soft, yet it clearly penetrated the storm and reached Shukaku's ears. "Do you still remember our promise?"
Shukaku froze, lowering its massive head and staring at him suspiciously. "Promise? What promise? Freedom is freedom! this lord can do whatever I want now!"
"Protect the Land of Wind, do not raise unnecessary sandstorms, and answer the call during wartime." Sayo repeated, word for word. "This is what you promised Bunpuku-sensei, and what you promised me."
"That was just to put the old monk at ease!" Shukaku cackled slyly, its voice grating. "Now that he's dead, are you planning to use that metal lump to order this lord around too?"
Sayo didn't answer, merely looking at it quietly. His gaze was calm yet profound, devoid of fear or threat, but carrying a seriousness that made Shukaku feel an inexplicable pressure.
Shukaku stared back at him for a moment, then suddenly flicked its tail in annoyance, kicking up sand and dust everywhere. "Hmph! Annoying! this lord knows! You bothersome brat, just as hateful as that old monk!"
It didn't explicitly admit anything, but it also didn't immediately leave. Its massive body began to slowly sink, merging into the desert below, like a drop of water returning to the ocean. The terrifying and violent Chakra aura didn't disappear, but gradually became peaceful, slowly resonating and integrating with the entire boundless sea of sand.
"This sand... this will be this lord's bed!" Its voice gradually deepened, finally disappearing into the whining sound of the wind. "...Don't bother me while I sleep..."
Finally, the desert returned to superficial calmness. Only the shattered Temple and the dust that had not yet fully settled in the air testified to everything that had just occurred.
Sayo stood rooted to the spot, gazing for a long time at the patch of sand where Shukaku had vanished, then looked back at Bunpuku, who seemed to be asleep inside the Temple.
The night wind blew past, bringing the whispers of distant dunes. He knew that the compassionate monk had finally found eternal peace, and the capricious yet not entirely faithless Tailed Beast had returned to its original home.
The desert witnessed the farewell and carried the weight of a new promise.
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