Chapter 6: Bet

"No, he's different even for geniuses. I can feel it. Someday, he will surpass even The God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama and create huge changes in this world" - (Rasa) said with a deep voice as he stared on his blank palm with an excited look on his face and then formed a fist.

….

Seeing the expression on their Kazekage's face, the people inside the room were surprised. This was the first time they saw him showing expression other than his indifferent look ever since the death of his wife.

"Ahem, I believe we should trust Kazekage-sama's judgement." - (Member 8)

The people nodded their heads to show their agreement and Rasa snapped back to reality.

"For the time being, we should slowly implement a more advanced curriculum in the academy. This is to prepare our future shinobis for war." - (Rasa)

The meeting continued for hours. They talked about different preparations, strategies they could use for the war, what should be changed and added to the academy's curriculum while staying out of radar etc.

–Gaara's house–

"Haaah! This is so refreshing." - (Gaara) groaned as he sank his body into the bathtub with warm water.

"Thank goodness we didn't encounter any more of those centipedes. Those assassins also took me by surprise. Dealing with them during the test was such a pain, they haven't done that for years. The higher ups are probably preparing for something." - (Gaara)

"Hn! Greedy humans." - (Shukaku)

"You said I would die on that test. Well, I won our bet. You should keep your promise" - (Gaara)

"Huh! Who would even think that they would just send small fries for a test. During my time, those last two you've defeated were just snacks I can find anywhere. The king of those worms which was tall as a small mountain, I just used them to scrape my back." - (Shukaku)

"Oohh, so you're really that great huh, Great Shukaku. Well, most of us humans are weak but greedy, you know. Take you for example. Although there are many other powerful tailed-beasts, since my people are weak, we just settled with you. Hahaha." - (Gaara) said jokingly and laughed at the end.

"What did you say?!" - (Shukaku)

Although they're both mean to each other sometimes, their loneliness allows them to let it pass.

Ever since the death of the old man, Gaara's the first person to start a conversation with Shukaku without asking for his power. At the same time, Gaara hasn't had a proper conversation with anyone since he came to this world so he felt unconnected to the world. As for his siblings, they lived in a different house and they rarely met so he feels like they are just strangers to him.

As beings with chakra, the two of them unconsciously seek connection and bond from others.

This is also the main reason why the Sage of Six Paths shared his chakra to the world so that they can form connections with other people. But he didn't think of the potential threat it might cause. After all, humans are sentient beings, beings that can think and decide for themselves, beings that already have feelings.

So, instead of his beloved children becoming the symbol of peace, prosperity and love like he had envisioned, they were used and became tools of war, destruction and hatred.

…

After finishing his bath, Gaara put on his clothes and lay on his bed. He then entered his mindscape.

–Mindscape–

His mindscape hasn't really changed in the past years. It's still the huge gloomy dark room like always.

In the center, there's a huge sand-like tanuki with a huge belly laying on his back, sleeping.

"Yo, Chub. Lazy as always, I see. Why don't you do some work out. Look at that huge fat belly of yours." - (Gaara) said jokingly.

As he said that, a huge hand with sharp claws made of sand towered above him. The hand fell down towards him, creating a huge sound and splashes of water.

*Boom!*

Unlike before, Gaara was able to dodge it and then continued talking.

"Wake up, don't you still have a lost bet to fulfill?" - (Gaara)

Shukaku just ignored him and continued to sleep. Seeing this, Gaara decided to continue riling him up.

"I didn't expect you to be that low and shameless. Well, I heard that even someone as powerful as the 9-tails knows how to show pride and dignity sometimes. I guess it's not the same for the weak- " - (Gaara)

Before he could finish, another hand descended towards him to which he dodge.

"Don't mention that old fox in front of me!" - (Shukaku) yelled and got up.

"Nice, you're up. Anyways, as promised, you will tell me what you know about natural energy." - (Gaara) said excitedly.

"Fūck you, kid. Who cares about how that fox thinks. And who said I've got to tell you something?" - (Shukaku)

"That's a shame. I thought you knew something about that topic. But I guess you have no idea what I'm talking about. I should probably ask a more knowledgeable individual. Okay, bye~." - (Gaara) said and gestured goodbye to Shukaku.

As someone who lived for thousands of years, saying that he lacked knowledge and there's someone more knowledgeable than him is an insult. So he decided to reply.

"Hn! You think you could use natural energy? Dream on kid. You're probably the most untalented person I've ever met." - (Shukaku)

"Oh! So you knew something about it." - (Gaara)

"Of course! Who do you take me for? Unlike you weaklings, I can gather and use it even while asleep." - (Shukaku)

"I've read about it before. It says that there are people who could use it to enhance their taijutsu, ninjutsu and genjutsu. Other than that, there's no information about it." - (Gaara)

"Like I always said, kid. I'm not like you weaklings. From the moment we were born, ahem!... 'I' was born, I can use natural energy naturally! I am made from it, after all. What you're talking about is called <<sage mode>>. You weaklings, like the greedy bastards you are, always take nature for granted." - (Shukaku)

"Aren't you the same? You said that you're made out of natural energy, which means you use it to survive and live this long, same with your power." - (Gaara)

"Huh! Fool! Don't compare me to your kind. I, the Great Shukaku, is a part of nature itself! I did not take nor steal anything from anyone. How else would I be able to control sand minerals like a part of my body without using any jutsu?" - (Shukaku)

"Yeah, you're right." - (Gaara) said and thought for a moment.

"Does that mean I have natural energy myself since I can also use your ability?" - (Gaara) asked in a thinking pose.

Shukaku got silenced. He was half lying when he said earlier that Gaara doesn't have a chance of using natural energy.

….