At the main gate of Sunagakure, Pakura waited for the village's leadership.
Sunagakure's walls were constructed from layers of sun-dried mud brick, over thirty meters thick. The village entrance was a narrow, towering fissure carved through the massive wall.
The wind and sand outside the village were fierce; inside, they were much calmer.
The wind whipped Pakura's hair and robes.
From within the fissure, Rasa and the others looked at the tea kettle at Pakura's side.
The Bunpuku Tea Kettle hung at Pakura's waist like a satchel.
Rasa stepped forward and asked, "Pakura, where did you seal Shukaku?"
Pakura replied, "About 400 kilometers from Sunagakure. Shukaku was hiding in the sand. I just happened to seal it."
Rasa extended his hand, signaling Pakura to hand over the tea kettle.
Behind Rasa, Chiyo kept making meaningful eye contact with Pakura, urging her not to hand it over.
However, Pakura obediently handed over the kettle.
Rasa took the kettle and saw numerous seals on its surface.
There were black seals—those of the tea kettle sealing technique.
In addition, there were some dark red seals... seals Rasa didn't recognize.
Before Rasa could ask, Pakura explained:
"When I was studying under the Third Kazekage, I once saw a scroll in his office by chance.
That scroll recorded details about Shukaku. The Third even had me try it out to see if I had a talent for sealing techniques.
Fortunately, I learned the Tea Kettle Sealing Technique quite quickly.
Both the Third Kazekage and I thought I would never have to use this technique. I never imagined I could use it to help the village now.
Building upon the Tea Kettle Sealing Technique, I also developed a Scorch Release Sealing Technique. The two sealing techniques work together to reinforce the seal."
"So that's how it is," Ebizō said, glancing at the back of Rasa's head.
"The Third Kazekage held Pakura in very high regard before his disappearance.
Pakura is Sunagakure's precious kekkei genkai ninja. The Third personally instructed her.
To think the Third even taught Pakura Shukaku's sealing technique... It seems the Third had great expectations for her.
Fourth Kazekage, I nominate Pakura to become a Sunagakure Elder."
Matsu, another Elder and Rasa's confidant, spoke up:
"Pakura hasn't yet experienced the trials of a Great Shinobi War. Becoming an Elder now would be forcing things, a bit too early."
Everyone looked at Rasa.
But Rasa was staring down at the tea kettle, motionless for a long time.
After a minute, Rasa confirmed that Pakura's sealing prowess surpassed his own. He finally spoke:
"Pakura, you will head the Tea Kettle Sealing Unit.
In all of Sunagakure, only you have experience using the Tea Kettle Sealing Technique, and you've even developed a Scorch Release Sealing Technique.
The heavy responsibility of Tailed Beast sealing security now falls upon you."
Rasa had no choice but to give Pakura an important role. He was deeply puzzled—why was Pakura's sealing skill so high?
Unbelievably, absurdly high.
Subsequently, Sunagakure held a Jōnin Commander meeting concerning Shukaku.
At the meeting, Rasa announced the formation of a Sealing Unit, with Pakura as its head.
Rasa said, "Every village is making preparations for war. Sunagakure cannot be lax. Once war breaks out, the Sealing Unit will be responsible for deploying Shukaku on the battlefield..."
Pakura suddenly stood up. "Lord Kazekage! I believe deploying Shukaku on the battlefield is impractical!"
Rasa was taken aback.
Shukaku deployment was Rasa's most important planned measure for the war. Other villages had Jinchūriki; Sunagakure must also use its Tailed Beast.
Pakura continued, "Lord Kazekage, while sealing Shukaku, I felt its deep-seated, bone-chilling hatred for our village!
The Second Kazekage and Master Bunpuku together sealed Shukaku for over thirty years.
Master Bunpuku's seal was too stable—so stable that Shukaku didn't see daylight for over three decades.
It said the next time it appears, it will spare no cost in attacking the village.
I fear that if we deploy Shukaku on the battlefield, it might not attack Konoha at all. Instead, it might turn around and flee back into the desert.
If it just hides again, that's one thing. What we should fear most is its reckless fury, returning to Sunagakure to wreak havoc.
Our relationship with Shukaku is too poor. Shukaku is not necessarily our weapon. It's hard to say in whose hand the hilt of that weapon truly lies."
Hearing Pakura's argument, the jōnin immediately began whispering among themselves.
Indeed, anyone locked away from the sun for over thirty years would harbor immense hatred.
What if they released Shukaku on the battlefield, and it targeted Suna-nin instead?
Rasa glanced at Pakura, a flash of coldness in his eyes.
Elder Matsu spoke up to defuse the situation:
"Shukaku is Sunagakure's ultimate war weapon. Since you, Pakura, believe deploying it carries risks, then find a way to mitigate those risks.
Pakura, draft a plan. Attempt to release Shukaku and observe whether its hatred is indeed so great that it would recklessly attack Sunagakure, as you claim.
If Shukaku truly harbors such hatred for the village, then negotiate, or even use threats, to make it understand that cooperation with us is its only way out. Otherwise, we will seal it away forever."
Pakura had no choice but to accept the task and sat back down.
She looked out the meeting room window.
Delay with all your might. Hope Sunagakure misses the start of the Third Great Shinobi War.
She had witnessed Fox's power. An alliance of four Great Shinobi Villages sounded terrifying, but who was stronger compared to Konoha? It was hard to say at this point.
Over ten days later, under Rasa's repeated urging, Pakura finally led the Sealing Unit and Anbu ninja to a location far outside the village.
Maki, the son of Elder Matsu, was among the Anbu. It was his first time seeing the legendary Tailed Beast of Sunagakure.
A sand tanuki dozens of meters tall burst forth from the tea kettle.
It roared into the night sky, celebrating its freedom.
Shukaku turned its head and saw the Suna-nin in the distance.
"It's you! Suna-nin! I've roamed this desert for millennia! You are the outsiders! You are the invaders occupying my desert!
What right do you have to seal me away?! I'll kill you all! Wind Release: Air Bullets!"
Maki witnessed what a true natural disaster was.
Shukaku's Wind Release ninjutsu was more terrifying than any sandstorm Maki had ever seen.
The massive wind sphere swept forward, flattening several dunes.
Fortunately, the Kazekage had erected a high wall using Gold Dust, giving the Anbu ninja a chance to take cover.
The Fourth Kazekage and Shukaku clashed.
Gold Dust and sand collided like tidal waves. The terrifying explosions of Tailed Beast Balls created massive craters.
If such attacks occurred within Sunagakure itself, half the village would likely be destroyed in minutes.
In the end, Sealing Unit Head Pakura took action and sealed Shukaku away.
Maki approached his father, Elder Matsu, and whispered, "Lord Elder, does Head Pakura really have that much chakra?"
Matsu frowned. He had seen Pakura approach Shukaku, form hand seals, and then an immense amount of chakra, visible to the naked eye, poured from her hands.
After sealing Shukaku, Pakura was breathing heavily.
But that vast amount of chakra still left Matsu in awe.
Truly the kekkei genkai prodigy the Third Kazekage valued so highly.
In the desert, Pakura's words had proven true. Compared to Konoha, Shukaku hated Sunagakure more.
Without a Tailed Beast, could Sunagakure really contend with a behemoth like Konoha?
Would the tragedies of the Second Great Shinobi War repeat themselves? Even Elder Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law had died tragically on the battlefield.
Sunagakure's war preparations stalled.
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