Chapter 69 Gaara And Shouhe Are In A Daze, Sadly Reminding The Future

"What? Naruto, Shukaku has been pulled out of the seal here. But why? In the following battle, they both appeared again."

The Nine-Tails watched the scene of Shukaku being extracted and devoured with lingering fear, feeling unsettled by what had happened.

"Shukaku was stripped from his Jinchūriki, so Gaara must be dead," he remarked sadly.

Gaara, hearing the Nine-Tails' words, came to the same realization. "I... I died for those villagers?"

"There's more to it than that," Naruto explained. "After Gaara died, Chiyo from the Sand Village sacrificed her own life to bring him back. Shukaku was sealed in the body of the Ten Tails but was briefly freed during the subsequent battle."

Both Shukaku and Gaara were left bewildered by Naruto's explanation. "What is all of this...?" Gaara muttered, struggling to process the information.

Naruto, seeing their confusion, decided to show them what had happened. The surrounding scenery began to shift and change.

In the scene, Naruto could be seen pulling the tailed beasts out of Six Paths Obito. The Nine-Tails, Shukaku, and Gaara all stared in disbelief, not recognizing the person in the scene.

"I always thought that all nine tailed beasts were swallowed together by Uchiha Madara," said the Nine-Tails in realization. "But it turns out that One Tail Shukaku, Two Tails Matatabi, Three Tails Isobu, Four Tails Son Goku, Five Tails Kokuo, Six Tails Saiken, and Seven Tails Chomei were devoured one by one."

"Shukaku," Gaara called out, "I need your sand powers to help seal Madara."

In the vision, Gaara approached Shukaku with a sincere plea. Shukaku stared at Gaara with suspicion.

"Seal him in a massive burial under the desert, is that what you're planning?" Shukaku asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Yes, and it needs to be a big one," Gaara confirmed, nodding. Over the years, they had come to know each other's abilities well.

"Hah! Now that I'm free from being a Jinchūriki, do you think I'm still going to obey your orders?" Shukaku let out a strange laugh, a proud grin on his face.

"It's not an order, it's a request," Gaara responded calmly. "If you don't want to help, I can find someone else..."

Knowing Shukaku's nature well, Gaara kept his face serious and began to walk away.

"Hmph... Are you going to ask Uzumaki Naruto for help? You and that fox-boy have become quite the friends, Gaara," Shukaku muttered, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.

Gaara continued walking. "If you don't help, I'll ask someone else later..."

Shukaku huffed. "I hate it when you say that! It's said that a fox changes seven times, and a tanuki changes eight! I'm no worse than that stupid fox."

He stomped his foot on the ground. "Fine! I didn't agree to your request, but I'll help—of my own free will. Lead the way!"

Shukaku's loud proclamation caught the attention of the Four Tails, Son Goku. "We'll come along too!" Son Goku shouted, rallying the other tailed beasts.

Just as they prepared to move, Uchiha Madara appeared, eyes closed, rushing toward them.

"Shukaku, do it now!" Gaara shouted, standing on his sand platform with his hands outstretched.

"Watch this! Wind Style: Sand Shot!" Shukaku roared, forming hand seals and launching his ninjutsu.

Countless grains of sand shot toward Uchiha Madara like bullets, overwhelming him in a barrage of attacks. Madara, caught mid-air, was pummeled by the sand bullets until his body was riddled with holes.

"Not bad, but this alone won't be enough to finish me!" Madara sneered, despite the paint-like bruises covering his body.

With a loud shout, Gaara activated his ninjutsu. The sand bullets embedded in Madara's body began to bind him, immobilizing him.

Seeing their chance, the other tailed beasts stepped forward, attacking Madara with their own techniques, one after another.

"It's time, Shukaku!" Gaara yelled as Uchiha Madara was caught in Six Tails Saiken's corrosive acid.

Shukaku immediately slammed his hands into the ground, sending waves of sand into the acid pool. A large, pyramid-like sealing array began to form around Madara.

"Desert Layer Burial Seal!" Gaara shouted, completing the final hand sign as the pyramid seal closed in. The great burial seal, a technique unique to Shukaku, was finally complete.

For a brief moment, Gaara and Shukaku exchanged a silent glance, both reflecting on their deep bond and understanding. This was their future—a destiny intertwined.

But before they could relish in their success, Madara, now enveloped in his Susanoo, broke free from the pyramid seal.

Black Zetsu appeared, handing over the Rinnegan to Madara, summoning the Ten Tails golem and its chains. Watching these sudden twists unfold, Shukaku felt helpless.

"Is this nightmare never going to end...?" Shukaku muttered, dreading what was to come.

Just when all seemed lost, a figure rushed forward and broke the chains binding the tailed beasts. It was Gaara, the future Kazekage.

"Gaara, don't hesitate now!" Shukaku barked as he grabbed the chain around his neck. Despite his frustration, he couldn't deny his respect for Gaara.

"Shukaku, I'm no longer your Jinchūriki," Gaara replied with resolve. "Now, we can finally stand as equals."

With fierce determination, Gaara activated his sand-based ninjutsu once again to save Shukaku.

But it was too late. In an instant, Shukaku was pulled back into the Ten Tails. "Gaara, you... you really are special..."

With those final words, Shukaku disappeared into the Ten Tails, expressing his last emotion before being consumed.

Back in the present, the scene faded away, and Naruto pulled his fist back, returning everyone to the sealed space.

"Gaara, Shukaku, you've now seen your future," Naruto said. "What you choose to do is up to you. But I can tell you this—the enemies in the future will be far stronger than Uchiha Madara. And Shukaku, you will be their first target."

Naruto then powered up into his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, standing before them in his chakra coat.

"What?! You've reached this level?!" Shukaku exclaimed in astonishment, looking at Naruto in disbelief.

"Quack quack… Still talkative, aren't you, stinky tanuki?" the Nine-Tails grinned, his overwhelming presence filling the space. "What did you say earlier? A fox changes seven times, a tanuki changes eight? Well, I'm no worse than a dumb tanuki like you."

Shukaku, now reduced to just a bit of chakra, huffed in annoyance. "I'm just a blob of chakra. Do what you will."

Turning to Gaara, Shukaku softened. "I'll be waiting for you, Gaara."

With that, Shukaku dispersed, leaving only his chakra behind.

"Uzumaki Naruto, is that really our future?" Gaara asked, his face uncertain.

These events were far too overwhelming for Gaara, who had only known hardship and battle his entire life.

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