Inside Gaara's seal, Shukaku's heart lurched at Gen's words. The beast instantly began hissing warnings, trying to sway Gaara...Don't trust him, this Uchiha has nothing but ill intent.
But Gaara barely heard it. He hadn't slept peacefully for as long as he could remember, and the promise of rest was too tempting to ignore.
Temari and Kankurō exchanged uneasy glances. They wanted to believe, but doubt lingered.
"Can you really make Gaara sleep?" Temari asked, her voice edged with suspicion. "Even Father and Chiyo-sama couldn't solve this problem. Are you sure you're not up to something?"
Gen smirked. "Rasa's sealing work and Chiyo's jutsu? At best, passable. But compared to the depth of Konoha's sealing arts? They're nothing. Whether you try it or not is your choice, it's not my sleep being ruined."
Temari and Kankurō stiffened at the insult. They bristled at hearing their father and Chiyo belittled, but against Uchiha Gen, they dared not voice their anger.
"Even if you can," Temari pressed, still wary, "why would you help us? Would you really do something so kind?"
Gen chuckled. "Clever girl. Of course there's a reason. First, the beast inside your brother was disrespectful to me. Second… I enjoy ordering Rasa's children around."
His smirk widened. "So here's the deal. If you want me to fix this, the three of you will serve me. The boys will rub my legs, and you"—his gaze flicked to Temari—"will massage my shoulders. Miss this chance, and maybe your brother never sleeps again."
The siblings froze. Then Temari, gritting her teeth, nodded. "Fine. We'll do it. But if you try anything, Father and the whole Hidden Sand will come for you."
Gen waved off the threat with disdain. He sat up, uncrossing his legs, and raised a hand. "Bring him here."
Temari and Kankurō guided Gaara forward.
"Lift his shirt. Expose the seal," Gen ordered.
They obeyed. The intricate sealing formula inked into Gaara's stomach shimmered before Gen's Sharingan. His eyes narrowed as he studied it. Within seconds he had unraveled its principles, its design, and most importantly—its flaws. Flaws that let Shukaku gnaw constantly at Gaara's mind. Correcting them would sever the beast's grip on his sleep.
"This will sting," Gen warned. "Endure it."
His hands blurred through seals. "Spirit Sealing Imprint."
Flames of chakra burst on each fingertip. Gen pressed his hand firmly against Gaara's stomach.
Ssshhh—! A searing hiss split the room, like fire meeting water. Gaara's brow twisted in agony, his face contorting but not a sound escaped his lips. He bore it in silence.
When Gen withdrew his hand, the seal had changed. Around the original design bloomed a new ring of markings, delicate as spider silk, forming a great black web across the sealing space.
The Spirit Sealing Imprint: a technique to suppress the spiritual influence of foreign chakra, binding the will of the Tailed Beast away from its host.
Until now, Gaara had lived tense every second, constantly bracing to keep Shukaku from slipping free. That strain had stolen his sleep and chipped away at his sanity. But now—
"You filthy Uchiha brat!" Shukaku's voice shrieked inside the seal, sharp enough to cut stone. "You dare cage me like this? When I get out, I'll bury you alive!"
But without Gaara's chakra as a medium, Gen couldn't hear him. He straightened, brushing his hands together. "Done. How do you feel, kid?"
Gaara blinked slowly, then whispered, "He's… very unhappy. Furious. That means it worked." A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Good. Then let's begin." Gen reclined back again. "Don't slack off, or I'll make you redo it."
The three siblings exchanged resigned looks. But a deal was a deal. They moved into place the boys massaging his legs, Temari working stiffly at his shoulders. Their technique was clumsy, childish—but Gen didn't care. The absurdity of Rasa's proud children reduced to his attendants amused him enough.
Minutes passed. Then Gen chuckled darkly. "Heh. Your late old man is as cautious as ever… dragging half the village here."
At ninja speed, Rasa should have arrived long ago. But instead, he had delayed, setting his pieces in place. By now, every available Anbu of Sunagakure surrounded the house.
Rasa himself approached, flanked by the two most powerful elders: Chiyo and Ebizō.
The door slid open.
Rasa entered first—short brown hair, black uniform beneath a Kazekage robe and hat. His eyes were dark, his expression grim. To his left, Chiyo: long pale-violet hair, her lined face stern, her white robe crisp. To his right, Ebizō: bandages across his head, gray brows drooping, his old face solemn.
The three elders stepped into the living room—only to freeze.
There, their Kazekage's children knelt around Uchiha Gen, massaging him like servants.
Rasa's mouth twitched violently. Relief flickered, at least they were alive, but fury boiled over it instantly.
He drew a deep breath. "Fear Shura himself, stooping to bully three children. Don't you feel ashamed?"
"Ashamed?" Gen scoffed. "I didn't force them. They agreed. If you doubt me, ask them."
Rasa's glare flicked to Temari. "Explain."
Temari's voice stumbled at first, but she quickly recounted the exchange.
As she spoke, Rasa, Chiyo, and Ebizō's expressions hardened. Fear ran beneath their anger. If Gen had wanted to, he could have unleashed the One-Tail then and there. Sunagakure might already be a wasteland.
Even now, unease gnawed at them. What had Gen done to the seal?
"Gaara. Come here." Rasa's voice was sharp.
Gaara obeyed, head bowed. Chiyo and Ebizō immediately moved with Rasa, their hands glowing with chakra as they examined the seal.
Gen snorted. "Judging a gentleman's heart with a villain's mind. You think I'd endanger Pakura when she still lives here? Konoha and the Sand are allies."
But the three ignored him, focused on their inspection. Gen lost interest. He rose, strolling casually toward the kitchen.
Pakura was finishing the meal. Together, she and Gen carried the trays back out. As they entered the dining room, Pakura greeted Chiyo and Ebizō politely—yet passed Rasa without a glance. Her hatred for him burned too deep for courtesy.
Meanwhile, Ebizō had already ushered the three children quietly from the room.
"Kazekage-sama," Chiyo said at last, "the seal is fine. In fact—it's stronger. Gaara will finally be able to sleep."
Rasa's jaw tightened. He gave a terse nod and turned toward the dining room.
There sat Uchiha Gen, arrogant and unbothered, eating as though in his own home. Beside him, Pakura—alive, well, and glaring daggers at the Kazekage.
Rasa's face darkened until it seemed ink might drip from his skin. "Uchiha Gen, don't push your arrogance too far. This is not Uchiha clan territory. This is not your Police Force."
Gen gaze flicked to Pakura. "Pakura. Put that down. Come stand behind me."
Expression blank, she obeyed—setting aside her chopsticks and quietly taking her place at Gen's back.
Clatter!
Gen's chopsticks dropped. Then, with a sharp boom, the entire dining table splintered apart under his palm, exploding into shards.