Hunt for the tailed beasts begins(Fixed)

[Village Hidden in the Sand]

Night blankets the village, its streets and rooftops eerily empty at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, dark shadows flit silently from one shadow to another, converging toward the largest chakra signature they've detected. These shadows belong to Repose, one of the Ten Commandments, and his unit. Their mission: capture Gaara for their king. Failure is not an option.

[Gaara's POV]

Monster—that's what they call me. Hatred and fear are all I've ever known. All I wanted was to play with them, to connect… but somehow, it always ends in pain. Only Yashamaru showed me kindness. He loved me—or so I thought.

But why? Why do they hate me? Why do they treat me like a monster? I need answers. I have to understand why I'm feared, why I'm alone.

[Repose's POV]

The target sits atop a building, seemingly lost in thought. Suddenly, a rogue ninja—unaffiliated with my unit—attacks him, hurling a barrage of kunai. The sand surrounding Gaara reacts instantly, forming an impenetrable shield to protect him. It's an impressive display, though nothing compared to the feats I've witnessed under our king's command.

I send a mental command to my unit: "Apprehend the attacker. We need the target alive, and we were instructed not to harm the child unless absolutely necessary. I'll handle the target."

With precision, my unit moves out. Before we can fully engage, the boy's sand lashes out at the attacker. Seizing the opportunity, I activate my Mangekyō Sharingan. To ensure he focuses on me, I throw a kunai deliberately aimed to be deflected by his sand shield. As expected, the sand redirects the attack, and his attention shifts toward me.

Locking eyes with him, I cast a powerful genjutsu, infiltrating his mindscape to take control of Shukaku, the One-Tail sealed within him. Controlling a jinchūriki should be straightforward—especially given his youth and lack of experience—but something feels off. Despite my dominance over both the boy and the beast, his sand continues to act independently, shielding him fiercely.

Dodging the relentless attacks, I notice the sand releases the outside attacker and instead forms a protective dome around the boy. Within the swirling mass of sand, a feminine figure emerges, her hands cradling the child protectively. Hearing the subdued cries of the captured shinobi, I overhear him mutter, "Karura… is that you?" His voice trembles as tears stream down his face. According to the intel we gathered, Karura is Gaara's late mother.

This development complicates matters. We can't move the target while he's encased in this defensive barrier, and engaging in combat risks drawing unwanted attention. If anyone spots the Sharingan, it could lead back to our clan—and Konoha.

Left with no alternative, I send a mental message to Gaku-sama, my commanding officer, explaining the situation. After reviewing the circumstances, he issues new orders: bring the captured shinobi, and Obito will retrieve the boy.

Moments later, Obito arrives, his presence calm yet commanding. Taking in the scene—the protective sand dome and the unrelenting defenses—he nods and advances. The sand attempts to intercept him, but it passes harmlessly through his intangible form. Once inside the dome, he finds Gaara standing motionless, trapped in a genjutsu awaiting commands. With a swift activation of his own abilities, Obito teleports the boy into his dimensional space.

Meanwhile, the previously hostile shinobi struggles violently against my men, attempting to break free and defend the boy—a stark contrast to his earlier assassination attempt. A member of the Hyūga clan among my unit swiftly disables his chakra points and knocks him unconscious.

As Gaara is pulled into Obito's dimension, the sand continues its assault, eventually following the boy through the portal. Emerging from the now-vanished dome, Obito announces matter-of-factly: "One down, seven to go." Turning to me, he adds, "New orders for you and your unit: eliminate the Kazekage and retrieve his body. He is to join our ranks."

Acknowledging the directive, I watch as Obito vanishes. Addressing my unit, I issue the next phase of our operation: "We head to the village center to deal with the Kazekage. Let's hope this makes up for our failure in the initial capture mission—or we won't be able to face the king. Move out."

//Author Notes://

Sorry for the shorter chapter! My available time ran out, and I needed to get back to work. Rest assured, more updates will come soon!