Chapter 165: Shukaku Ball Cup

"Tsk, quite assertive," Shishou muttered, instantly appearing behind Temari and snatching her fan. He swiftly placed a sealing talisman on her forehead, rendering her immobile like a zombie.

Temari's wind techniques were too loud; if left unchecked, they would draw the attention of Sunagakure's guards. "What did you do to me?" Temari asked, her face pale as she realized she couldn't move.

"Don't worry, I have no ill intentions towards you or Gaara," Shishou reassured her. Carrying both Temari and Gaara effortlessly, he brought them into Gaara's bedroom.

Placing Temari like a doll by the bed, Shishou then threw Gaara onto it. "What are you planning to do with Gaara?" Temari demanded, seeing Shishou place his hand on Gaara's stomach.

"Gaara's seal is unstable, causing Shukaku to disturb his sleep, which makes him irritable and prone to violence," Shishou explained patiently. "Out of respect for your mother, I'm here to help him."

"You knew my mother?" Temari was astonished.

Not really, Shishou thought. He was merely moved by the maternal love reflected in the sand left by Karura. As an orphan, he could relate. But he neither confirmed nor denied it. "Don't disturb me," he instructed.

"I understand," Temari reluctantly agreed, knowing she was powerless in her current state.

Shishou glanced at her and closed his eyes, entering Gaara's subconscious.

"Let me out!!" Shukaku's sharp, crazed screams filled Shishou's ears the moment he entered, making him wince. "Tsk tsk, anyone would go mad with this noise all the time," Shishou mused, shaking his head. Gaara's incomplete seal did nothing to block Shukaku's screeching.

"Hey, one-tail, can you quiet down?" Shishou shouted, hitting a sore spot for Shukaku.

"You're asking for it!" Shukaku roared, gathering chakra furiously.

"Tsk..." Shishou's Mangekyou Sharingan spun, casting a powerful genjutsu on Shukaku.

He orchestrated a soccer match within the illusion, calling it the Shukaku Ball Cup.

Soon, Shukaku experienced the same ordeal Kurama once did.

"Stop... please," Shukaku pleaded after just a few minutes, yielding to Shishou's torment.

"Behave from now on, or I'll come back for another match," Shishou threatened, holding the shrunken Shukaku in his hand.

"I understand," Shukaku nodded hastily.

Satisfied, Shishou exited Gaara's subconscious and returned to reality.

He noticed Temari watching him intently and smirked, placing his hand on Gaara's stomach again.

Immediately, Shukaku's chakra surfaced on Gaara, forming a bijuu cloak.

"What's happening?" Temari asked, alarmed by the transformation.

"It's a bijuu cloak, formed from Shukaku's chakra," Shishou explained, releasing the parasitic insects to absorb and purify the chakra.

"Tsk, only 150 units. Shukaku, as a bijuu, you're pretty pathetic," Shishou thought, feeling the chakra augment his own.

"How is he?" Temari asked anxiously as the cloak dissipated.

"It's done," Shishou replied nonchalantly. He hadn't reinforced the seal, merely subdued Shukaku temporarily.

"He should be fine for a while," Shishou assured her.

"Really?" Temari was skeptical.

"Calm down," Shishou said, removing the seal from her forehead and releasing Gaara from the genjutsu.

Temari immediately rushed to Gaara's side, holding him protectively. "Gaara, how do you feel?"

"I'm so sleepy," Gaara mumbled before falling into a deep sleep in Temari's arms, finally free from Shukaku's torment.

"Thank you," Temari said, genuinely grateful.

"I didn't do it for free. How will you repay me?" Shishou asked, sitting in front of her.

"But you said you helped because of my mother," Temari protested, surprised by his demand.

"That was just this time. Gaara will need help again," Shishou lied smoothly. He needed Temari as an inside contact in Sunagakure for future visits.

"What do you want?" Temari asked, frowning.

"Just help me with a small favor when the time comes," Shishou said, stretching leisurely. "Oh, and don't tell anyone about this visit, especially not your father."

"Why not?" Temari asked, confused but beginning to trust him.

"No reason, just don't like his face," Shishou said. "If you tell, next time I'll beat him up and take Gaara with me."

With that, Shishou activated the Flying Thunder God technique, disappearing and reappearing in the courtyard to hypnotize the guards and servants, making them forget the night's events.

Because of Pakura's betrayal, Shishou harbored deep resentment towards the Fourth Kazekage.

Seeing Shishou's swift disappearance and return, Temari realized the truth. "You're the Flying Thunder God user?" she gasped.

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