Chapter 101 : Shukaku!!

"Who are you?"

Gaara was still playing with sand in his hand, but he raised his head and curiously looked at Genya.

In Sunagakure, no one ever spoke to him!

Who is this person who suddenly appeared?

As he thought about it, a sense of caution filled his eyes. Gaara was often targeted for assassination, so he had to be careful.

That wariness was something his uncle had taught him.

"My name is Uchiha Genya. I want to be your friend!" Genya smiled at Gaara, the corner of his mouth curving up. He made sure to show a friendly and warm smile in front of Gaara.

It made him seem approachable.

However, while speaking, Genya's gaze remained fixed on Gaara's dark circles under his eyes.

He wasn't sure if Gaara's dark circles were a genetic trait inherited from Shukaku, or if it was due to a lack of sleep over time.

From what he knew, Shukaku would affect the host's mental state while they slept, which was why Gaara rarely slept.

What a pitiful child. Worse off than Naruto!

Even without his presence, Naruto had Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was somewhat fake but still there. But Gaara didn't have that luxury.

From the moment he was born, he was neglected!

The villagers isolated him, and even his father oppressed him, sending people to assassinate him!

In his father's eyes, only someone who could control Shukaku despite extreme sorrow would be a worthy jinchuriki!

So, Gaara spent his time in misery.

"Friends? Friends, you say?" Gaara seemed indifferent to the word, having lost all emotion toward it. Even when Genya spoke it, Gaara showed no expression and simply asked calmly, "Why do you want to be friends with me? I'm an ill omen."

Gaara remained very rational as he stared at Genya, trying to find some hint of what he was up to! At the same time, he understood why his companions isolated him—he couldn't control the monster inside him.

For the safety of his friends, Gaara had already become accustomed to not associating with others. Even if someone like Genya came to him, he still wanted to keep people at a distance.

This had become a habit of his.

"Because we are the same. We've both been called monsters, outcasts, and have been isolated by others!" Genya's words struck deep into Gaara's heart, trying to stir his emotions.

Of course, Genya wasn't lying. He had indeed been isolated because of his Dual Pupil eyes in the past!

However, since most of the Uchiha ninjas joined the Merchant Association, his situation had completely changed. Now, Genya couldn't be bothered with those people.

Moreover, he already had enough companions by his side.

"Huh? You also have something terrifying sealed inside you?" Only then did Gaara take a careful look at the boy in front of him, who was about his age. His tone was a bit murmured.

But soon, Gaara shook his head. He didn't sense anything like him inside Genya.

"Sealed something inside me? No. But I do have a playmate who has a demon beast sealed inside him," Genya kept talking, half joking and half serious. "Seems like you two might have a lot in common. But my playmate is way more cheerful than you!"

As he said this, Genya crouched down and got closer to Gaara.

Meanwhile, behind them, the yellow-haired ninja who had been watching Gaara didn't seem to care. He just stood there, quietly observing.

He wasn't worried about Gaara being in danger.

Gaara had an absolute defense left by his mother. There was no way a little kid could harm him.

What worried the yellow-haired ninja was Gaara losing control, but it seemed like the kid in front of Gaara wasn't a Sunagakure ninja. Even if Gaara did lose control, the one in danger would be the kid across from him.

"Same kind?" Gaara muttered softly, then turned his gaze back to Genya. "Then why were you also isolated?"

"Because of these eyes!" Genya smiled, deliberately guiding the conversation toward his eyes.

"Eyes?" Gaara asked, his curiosity piqued, and his eyes fixed on Genya's.

Dual Pupils?

Gaara was surprised. Such eyes were indeed rare—this was something unusual! However...

As Gaara locked eyes with him, Genya's pupils revealed the Sharingan, spinning rapidly!

Then...

His mental energy entered an empty space!

It was a vast sea of sand, and Genya's footsteps made slight sounds as he walked on the sand.

"This is the space sealing of Shukaku?" Genya observed the space, muttering softly, feeling a bit fortunate.

Sure enough...

The absolute defense left by Gaara's mother could only protect the physical body, not the soul!

Genya started to seriously examine the space. It was vast—extremely vast. As he walked forward, he saw the sealed Shukaku.

At that moment, Shukaku appeared to be sleeping. Its massive body was sealed within a sand pillar cage. However, this cage was much more crude than Naruto's seal, with several parts of the seal already damaged!

No wonder Gaara always lost control!

This seal was a hidden danger—sealing techniques were something the Uzumaki clan excelled at.

During Naruto's ten years of growth, he wasn't significantly affected by the Nine-Tails. This was one reason why Naruto was able to retain his childlike innocence.

If Naruto had faced injustice as a child, with the Nine-Tails constantly influencing him, he might not have remained as cheerful as he is now.

"Kid? Who are you?" Just as Genya approached, Shukaku, who had been with its eyes closed, suddenly opened its eyes and looked at the unexpected visitor in the mental world. "How did you get into the mental world?"

The sound of Shukaku was sharp, almost like that of a young eunuch!

"Shukaku, huh? An old friend of yours sent me to check on you, and maybe take a little advantage while I'm at it!" Genya said with a grin, his pupils glowing with black flames that began to flicker.

The flames leaped toward Shukaku, much like the Nine-Tails, trying to struggle with the fire. But because Shukaku was sealed, he couldn't shake off the black flames.

"Kid, what kind of flames are these..." If Shukaku were outside, he would have already shaken off the black flames. But trapped in the seal, he could only struggle. "How is this possible? These flames can absorb my chakra?"

He wanted to break free and take control of Gaara's mind! But...

Gaara was still trapped in an illusion, and with Genya keeping Shukaku busy, he couldn't break free either!

"Stop struggling. You should let me absorb it like the Nine-Tails did. Why resist?" Genya teased while continuing to exert his mental energy, making the black flames engulf Shukaku.

He no longer had the time to try affecting Gaara. Instead, he kept slapping away at the flames on his body.

Slowly...

Shukaku's mental state started to weaken, and his chakra continued to be devoured!

"The Nine-Tails? You've absorbed the Nine-Tails chakra too?" Hearing Genya's words, Shukaku suddenly stopped struggling.

"Of course. And not just once!" Genya said casually. "The reason I'm absorbing your chakra is to get stronger, so I can go back and absorb the Nine-Tails chakra more effectively."

Huh?

As Genya's words echoed, the One-Tail Shukaku suddenly sat down. Its gaze softened as it continued to speak in a sharp tone, "Kid, keep going. Keep absorbing my chakra!"

"You're going too slow! Speed up!"

****

Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early chapters.

https://www.patreon.com/AniScout