"Do you know anything about a leech with plant like chakra that attaches itself to humans' chakra?" Tobirama asks, peering up at Shukaku. The Ichibi is currently making a sandcastle. Tobirama promised to make a moat around it when the Ichibi finished but the Bijuu keeps on making his sandcastle more and more intricate so it's probably going to be a while before he actually has to make the moat. Shukaku pauses for a moment, blinking one huge black and gold eye down at him.
"Nope," Shukaku says, turning back to his sandcastle. "I don' really pay attention to humans 'cause they're so mean to me. Matatabi might know, or... well, Matatabi might know. She doesn't come to the desert very much, though." Tobirama takes a moment to wonder which of the bijuu Shukaku stopped himself from mentioning. They only one besides the Ichibi that he's met (in a rather large stretch of the world) is the Kyuubi. As you can imagine, the situation wasn't exactly one to have a calm conversation about weird chakra leeches. Not that he would have known to ask, at the time.
"Who's Matatabi?" He decides to ask. It doesn't really matter who the other bijuu may have been, as long as this Matatabi might be willing to help. Shukaku shifts a bit, tail thumping against the ground once. It sends up a plume or sand that Tobirama needs to shunshin to avoid.
"...the Nibi," Shukaku huffs. "She's really picky though, are you sure I can't help? Or- or Kokuo? Or even Isobu? They're nicer..."
"Would they know about the chakra-leech?" Tobirama asks, willing to go to a 'nicer' bijuu if they can give him the information he needs without killing him. Shukaku pouts at him. It's surprisingly cute for someone that stars in shinobi's nightmares. He's certain his civilian cult will love Shukaku, if he can somehow get any of the members to meet the weakest/youngest bijuu.
"Probably not," Shukaku grumps. Tobirama pats Shukaku's tail where it lays just within his reach. The fur is tough and bristling and positively coated in sand. Not really very surprising.
"Then you'll just have to help me with Matatabi," he says, offering a smile. Shukaku squints at him, tilting his head.
"Help you...?" The Ichibi repeats curiously. He wonders if anyone, even the other bijuu, have ever helped Shukaku.
"Help me," he confirms. "You could come with me. Help me convince Matatabi to help- well, help me find her, first, I suppose." Shukaku stares at him for a moment before breaking out into a bright grin. It twists oddly on the bijuu's face, looking rather terrifying. Particularly when paired with Shukaku's formidable fangs.
"Like a bodyguard!" Shukaku chirps (chirps, a bijuu bigger that two houses stacked on top of each other chirps) brightly.
"And like friends," Tobirama acquiesces with a smile that he refuses to admit is fond.
"Friends!" Shukaku crows.
"Now, you should finish your sandcastle so I can put a moat around it," Tobirama prompts warmly. Shukaku, still grinning happily, does as he suggests and continues to work on the frankly impressive sandcastle. He can delay for a few hours longer- it's not like he's been rushing to deal with the leech these past few months. What is a little lost chakra compared to a joyous bijuu?
