Going back to the seal

"Think of it like this," Yashamaru explained. "A sleeping potion in high dosages can become a poison. While it still sends the person into a deep sleep, it can also cause hallucinations. In the worst-case scenario, the victim could be trapped in a dreamlike state, unable to distinguish reality from fantasy."

Kankuro nodded, understanding the concept. Temari, though not as overtly intrigued, wasn't exactly dense—she understood the situation too. At least Gaara was okay, which was all that mattered for now.

After the ordeal, Gaara slept through the night to recover, both physically and mentally. His body and mind needed time to return to their optimum condition.

By midnight, Gaara awoke. He found himself still in the infirmary, surrounded by a sterile, quiet atmosphere. As he sat up, he realized the situation wasn't as simple as he'd hoped. Military shinobi were stationed around the building, clearly under orders to monitor him. He was effectively under house arrest—unable to leave without permission.

But there was more to it than that. Beneath the surface, Sunagakure was investigating the infiltration. They were trying to uncover which nation or shinobi alliance had dared to attack Gaara, especially in such a covert manner.

Reluctantly, Gaara returned to his bed. He couldn't shake the strange, disturbing images that still lingered in his mind. What had really happened? The yellow eyes—what were they? The more he tried to piece together the puzzle, the less sense it made. The assassination attempt didn't fit the usual pattern. Normally, they targeted him when he was older or when he drew too much attention to himself. But this time... it felt different.

Gaara knew one thing for sure—he had to go back. He had to return to the desert, to the dark, desolate space he'd encountered. This wasn't the first time he had been helped by some unseen force. It was the third time, and Gaara couldn't shake the feeling that something was at play—something he still didn't understand.

With that thought in his mind, Gaara eventually drifted back to sleep, determined to find answers.

---

When Gaara closed his eyes again, he found himself in the very place he had been before, though not in the way he expected. There were no yellow eyes, no glimmering lights, and no dark, desolate space. Instead, a massive gate stood before him, solid and imposing, cutting him off from whatever lay beyond.

So, it's Shukaku, Gaara thought. The desert I saw last time—it was more like a mental fortitude shield. And when it broke, that's when Shukaku took hold of my vulnerability.

"Hello!" Gaara called out to the gate, but there was no response.

I knew it. It's Shukaku behind that gate. But why isn't there any reply?

"Hello!" Gaara called again, louder this time. This time, a response came—sharp and grating.

"Ah, I heard you the first time. What is it?" came the voice, unmistakably Shukaku's.

I got a reply? Gaara thought, excitement surging. Maybe I can finally communicate with it...

"Yes, now all I have to do is make a friendly relationship with it!" Gaara thought, trying to calm his nerves.

But Shukaku's next words quickly dashed that optimism.

"What? You weren't expecting a reply? Now you're stumped? Human children are so weird," Shukaku growled, irritated.

Shit! What do I say now? Gaara thought, panicking slightly. I totally forgot I'm not good at conversations... Okay, calm down. Just act natural.

Phew... Gaara took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.

In the silence that followed, Gaara sat down, taking a moment to clear his mind. He needed to focus on something, anything to steady himself. He closed his eyes and began to practice his chakra sensing technique.

This was the best place for it—he was surrounded by the leaking chakra from the seal, so it made sense to use this opportunity. This technique wasn't about chakra control, but rather sensing its flow and presence. It was something Gaara had been practicing for a while, and now seemed like the perfect moment to refine it.