"We, the tailed beasts, are vessels of chakra," Shukaku declared with pride. "Even if the jinchūriki dies, we will not perish."
"When our host dies, we return to scattered chakra, drifting everywhere, but after a time, we return."
He said this with a proud gleam in his dark, cross-shaped eyes proud of their near-immortal nature.
"So you're saying: even if the jinchūriki dies, it doesn't affect you much?"
Neji peered skeptically at Shukaku, as if asking, Are you kidding me?
If it truly had no impact, why drag him into this?
To amuse him?
"Not exactly."
A sorrowful darkness crossed Shukaku's eyes.
"Normally, when our host dies, it's over but we bounce back after a while."
"But as time passed, more people started studying chakra. Some got strong."
He snarled at mentioning Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha: both were so powerful even the Nine‑Tails couldn't match them.
His voice turned bitter.
"This all began with Hashirama and Madara. Those two you don't understand how monstrous they were."
His growl carried centuries of wrath.
Neji had little interest.
Without a word, he kicked Shukaku hard: "Cut the show. What are you really saying?"
Shukaku shrank back, his bulky form trembling. He spoke sadly, "Simply put, when we revive, we are extremely weak. If someone controls us then..."
He trailed off.
"We could end up... enslaved."
Neji frowned.
"So you might never break free?"
Shukaku nodded.
That was why they allowed themselves to remain within a jinchūriki: even a sealed existence was preferable to being captured while vulnerable.
"Where did you learn this? Have you been through it?"
Shukaku shook his head.
"It's instinct, unheard and untried."
Some truths are beyond testing.
This was tricky.
Neji rubbed his forehead.
He had thought he summoned an ally, only to find it was a liability. He sighed this world was too unkind.
He couldn't treat Shukaku like a lab rat.
"Stay here. I'll come for you later."
"Waah!" Shukaku wailed as he reverted to sand and retreated.
"Big brother, don't forget to save me!"
The sand dissipated.
Neji twisted Gaara's face with a punch, waking him as Shukaku disappeared.
Gaara collapsed, drained of chakra.
"Tch. Good thing Kankurō shielded you, or that fall would've killed you."
Neji landed beside Gaara, shaking his head at his brother's state.
Gaara glared at him, dark circles under his eyes deepening his rage.
Ikari ("mad"), Naruto and Sasuke exited the forest, supporting each other. Noticing Gaara on the ground, they froze.
Is it over?
Could someone truly defeat that behemoth?
They turned eyes on Neji and gasped.
Impossible… that kind of power how could he beat him?
Sasuke's eyes spun.
They fought him with the force of earth-shattering destruction how am I supposed to defeat him?
Neji knew Sasuke's thoughts instantly.
"You're a frog in a well," he said coldly. "You know nothing of power."
If even Shukaku had startled Sasuke, how would he ever defeat Itachi?
But soon enough, Sasuke would understand their real gap.
At that moment, Gaara screamed, "Damn you! I don't accept defeat!"
He drew strength at the sight of Naruto and shot up, charging at Naruto.
Yes, he charged straight at Naruto.
"What's with you? Wanna fight?!"
Naruto shook, shoved Sasuke aside, and charged toward Gaara.
"You bastard!"
Both had no chakra. They resorted to raw fistfight punch after punch each determined to knock the other down.
Whoa!
Is this the legendary bonds?
Neji watched, intrigued.
Earlier Gaara was on death's door, but now, faced with Naruto, he was firing on all cylinders. The intensity, the blood, the bravery it was breathtaking.
Best of all, they shouted things like "I'm the strongest!" and "I'll stop you!" the heart of a battle, full of pride and passion.
Neji frowned:
Why did I stop Gaara, only for Naruto and Sasuke to start brawling?
He stormed to a boulder and sat.
Alright, I'm ready to watch this show.
Punches landed, emotions boiled it was… surprisingly fantastic.
Suddenly, Neji called out to Sasuke:
"Hey, your partner's being beaten aren't you going to help?"
Sasuke blushed.
He recalled that embarrassing classroom moment with Naruto, his temper flaring.
Sasuke's reaction made Neji smirk: Everything is too clear to say now.
Naruto pinned Gaara down and delivered a heavy punch, then unleashed the trademark verbal sparring.
A chaotically comedic shouting match with no music, oddly amusingly awkward.
Neji watched thoroughly entertained until something unexpected happened...
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