Yo!

Apologies for the delay, but I'm back with the next chapter of Seal of Fate.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Without further ado, let's get started.

Enjoy the chapter.

The Seal of Fate

Chapter 11

Shukaku no Akuma

Gaara's Mindscape

Inside Gaara's mindscape, Naruto and Gaara found themselves standing amidst a chaotic wasteland. The once-familiar desert was now unrecognizable—a storm of swirling sands and jagged dunes stretched endlessly in every direction. The sky above was an oppressive swirl of dark clouds, crackling with arcs of golden lightning that illuminated the desolation below. The air was thick with malice, heavy and suffocating, as if the very atmosphere sought to crush them under its weight.

Gaara stood tall despite the chaos around him, his expression calm but his fists clenched tightly at his sides. This was not unfamiliar territory for him—he had spent years navigating this volatile landscape within himself—but it had never been this unstable before.

Naruto glanced around, his sharp eyes taking in every detail of the mayhem surrounding them. His hands tightened as he sensed the oppressive chakra saturating the air—the unmistakable presence of Shukaku. "This place…" he muttered under his breath, gripping his resolve tighter as he turned to Gaara. "It's worse than I thought."

Before Gaara could respond, a low growl rumbled through the mindscape, reverberating like thunder across the shifting sands. The ground beneath their feet trembled violently as a massive shadow began to take form in the distance. It moved with an unnatural fluidity, its hulking silhouette growing larger with each passing second.

The storm intensified as the shadowy figure approached, its glowing golden eyes piercing through the darkness like twin beacons of malice. The air grew colder, each breath feeling like shards of ice stabbing into their lungs. A chilling laugh echoed across the wasteland—a sound that sent shivers down even Naruto's spine.

"Kuahahahaha,"

And then he emerged fully from the storm: Shukaku.

The One-Tail towered over them, his massive body composed of swirling sand and chakra that shifted and writhed like a living storm. His jagged teeth gleamed menacingly as his wide grin stretched unnaturally across his face. Those glowing golden eyes locked onto Naruto and Gaara with an unsettling glee that bordered on madness.

"Well, well,"Shukaku drawled, his voice deep and guttural, carrying an edge of cruel amusement. "Look who decided to visit me together—my pathetic host and Kyuubi's little runt." He leaned forward slightly, his massive claws digging into the sand as he loomed closer. "What brings you here? Did you come to grovel? To beg for mercy?"

Naruto stepped forward without hesitation, his gaze unwavering despite Shukaku's menacing presence. "We're not here to grovel," he said firmly, his voice steady despite the oppressive weight pressing down on them. "We're here because things need to change."

Shukaku let out another chilling laugh that seemed to shake the very fabric of the mindscape. "Change?"he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. "You think you can change anything here? You're nothing but ants scurrying around in my domain."

Gaara remained silent beside Naruto, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Shukaku's every movement. Though anger flickered briefly in his gaze at Shukaku's taunts, he maintained his composure—this was not a time for rashness.

The One-Tail shifted slightly, his massive tail swaying behind him like a coiled serpent ready to strike. His grin widened unnaturally as he leaned closer to them, his eyes gleaming with twisted delight.

"But I must admit," Shukaku continued with a sinister chuckle, "I'm curious about one thing."His gaze locked onto Naruto with unnerving intensity. "Why would you come here? Did that fox put you up to this? Or are you just stupid enough to think you can handle me?"

Naruto didn't flinch under Shukaku's scrutiny; instead, he took another step forward until he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Gaara. His lavender eyes burned with determination as he met Shukaku's gaze head-on.

"I'm here because Gaara asked for my help," Naruto said simply but firmly. "And because I'm not afraid of you."

Shukaku let out another booming laugh that echoed across the mindscape like thunderclaps. "Not afraid?"he repeated mockingly before baring his jagged teeth in a wide grin. "Oh… this is going to be fun."

The storm around them intensified further as Shukaku reared back slightly, his massive form radiating an overwhelming aura of malice and power.

Gaara took a deep breath before stepping forward ahead of Naruto, his voice calm but resolute as he addressed Shukaku directly: "This ends now."

The One-Tail tilted his massive head slightly at Gaara's words before letting out another chilling laugh that sent shivers down their spines.

"Kuahahahaha,"

"Then come,"Shukaku growled menacingly, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he prepared himself for what was to come. "Let me show you why no one… no one… has ever tamed me."

Massive tendrils of sand erupted from the dunes, lashing out toward Naruto and Gaara with terrifying speed. At once, the environment itself seemed to twist in response—sinkholes open across the desert's surface, and razor-edged dunes shifted unpredictably, driven by the pulse of Shukaku's raging emotions. Fierce gusts of wind whipped the grains into blinding sheets, giving the impression that the battlefield was alive and intent on devouring them.

Naruto reacted first, honed instincts kicking in. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he shouted, forming the familiar cross-seal. In an instant, a dozen clones flickered into existence around him. Each hefted a gleaming staff charged with Wind Release—a tactic that had served him well in countless fights. The clones dashed forward with practiced synchronization, their combined wind chakra slicing at the incoming sand tendrils.

For a heartbeat, it seemed they had the advantage. Their well-timed strikes severed the tentacles of sand, scattering shimmering grains into the howling storm. But those grains reformed almost immediately, slithering back into lethal whips that rose again and lashed out with renewed ferocity.

A rumbling laugh—low, mocking—rolled across the wasteland. "You dare use wind against me?"Shukaku's voice echoed, dripping with scorn. "You're truly as dumb as that fox inside you, Uzumaki!"

Naruto gritted his teeth as two of his clones were swallowed by a crushing wave of cursed sand. Another clone vaulted high to evade a sweeping strike but was caught in midair by a tendril that coiled around its torso and squeezed until it vanished with a puff of smoke.

Still, ten clones remained, pressing the attack from different angles. Whirling staffs hummed with wind chakra, cutting through the dune-like arms. Yet the sand simply reassembled itself. With every regeneration, the terrain mutated further—sinkholes filling, new sand bulges forming around Shukaku's body. Harsh bursts of wind battered Naruto and Gaara, as if the desert itself resented their presence.

"Wind isn't working!" Naruto muttered, frustration evident in his voice. He spun aside just in time to avoid a brutal tendril smashing the ground where he'd stood, sending up a choking cloud of grit.

Beside him, Gaara stood within a protective dome of sand—his Absolute Defense—fending off multiple strikes at once. Each blow against the dome rippled across its surface. Through narrowed eyes, Gaara watched Shukaku warp the mindscape to magnify his own control over the desert. The swirling sand refused Gaara's calls, twisting away from his grasp with malicious glee.

Even as Gaara reinforced his dome, Naruto could feel a creeping sickness in the air. Prolonged exposure to Shukaku's malevolent chakra tugged at his reserves, leaving faint dizziness behind his eyes. Sensing mounting exhaustion, he forced himself to focus, exhaling slowly while channeling natural energy. Flickers of orange pigmentation began forming around his lids as he entered Sage Mode—an act of desperation to strengthen his body and enhance his resilience. If he couldn't outmuscle Shukaku directly, heightened sensory abilities and natural energy might tip the scales.

The moment he accessed Sage Mode, a surge of power coursed through him, fortifying his muscles and sharpening his senses. Yet he remained aware of its limits: Shukaku's chakra, spread like a suffocating gas, pressed upon them with a primal intent to kill, attempting to overwhelm his enhanced state.

As the wind-hammered dunes continued to shift, exhaustion gnawed at Naruto's limbs. Each breath was a struggle against the oppressive air, every movement heavy with fatigue. While Sage Mode prolonged his vitality and allowed him sustained exposure to the onslaught, it could not fully counteract Shukaku's lethal chakra. The pure murderous energy acted relentlessly, pressing down on him with deadly force.

Even as his body screamed for rest, Naruto stood unrelenting, that's when an unexpected sensation surged within him. Blessed by his Uzumaki vitality and bolstered by Otsutsuki resilience, Naruto's body began to recalibrate. His muscles flexed reflexively, drawing on reserves he didn't know he had. The pain receded, replaced by a fierce, quiet determination. His Tenchigan flared, not just as an observer but as part of his own renewed vigor. Although Sage Mode had strengthened him, Naruto could still feel the sickness trying to root him down, but his spirit countered it.

Nearby, Gaara's body had an instinctive reaction to the overwhelming Shukaku's chakra. Being Shukaku's jinchūriki, his form carried traces of the beast's essence, and those traces began to passively latch onto the surrounding dark energy. The sheer potency of the chakra was nearly unbearable at first—a searing pressure that threatened to overwhelm his senses. However, his body swiftly adjusted, assimilating the incoming chakra into his own, a passive absorption that steadied his trembling limbs. Although a subtle tremor ran through his muscles and his breaths grew shallow under the oppressive atmosphere, Gaara maintained a steely composure. He clenched his fists, grounding himself as his body seamlessly integrated Shukaku's power, turning a potential weakness into a source of resilience.

Naruto spared a glance at Gaara, noting his calm under pressure despite the subtle physical strain. He nodded to himself, relieved that he had activated Sage Mode. He knew they needed every advantage here. 'Wind isn't enough. We have to think bigger.'

"He's using my own sand against me," Gaara said, anger and disbelief tinging his quiet tone. Pieces of the desert he once commanded so effortlessly now danced to Shukaku's tune. 'He's warping the landscape, fueling his power… If I don't break his hold soon, I'll never regain control.'

"Then we'll fight him on his terms," Naruto declared, voice resolute over the roar of the storm. Shukaku had the advantage of raw sand manipulation, but there was another element that could disrupt sand with relative ease. The thought crystallized as Naruto recalled Jiraiya's lessons—water.

Yet the environment was an endless desert, twisted to Shukaku's will. Naruto had neither time nor an external source of water. No matter—he had studied enough to conjure water release from his own chakra.

Steeling himself against the shifting dunes, Naruto formed a series of rapid hand seals. The very atmosphere seemed to still in anticipation. Then, with a forceful slam of his palm onto the ground, he shouted, "Suiton: Mizurappa! (Water Wave)"

A torrent of water surged from beneath him, not drawn from the desolate wasteland but created entirely from his own chakra. The living wave thundered forward, crashing into Shukaku's massive form with astonishing force. The dynamic terrain responded in kind: as the water collided with the sand, portions of the ground morphed into muddy quagmires, while unstable dunes collapsed under the weight, creating sudden sinkholes and geysers that erupted with both sand and water.

The wave's impact made the once-fluid, deadly sand sluggish and heavy. Tendrils caught in mid-strike melted into sodden clumps, their momentum lost as they fell, wet and heavy, to the ground. For a heartbeat, the battlefield became a chaotic interplay of water and sand, with oasis zones forming amidst the torrent where Naruto and Gaara could momentarily regroup.

Shukaku bellowed in frustration, his voice resonating through the water-soaked air. "You insolent little whelp! You dare turn my own battlefield against me?"The sound reverberated, shaking the trembling dunes with anger and incredulity.

A wry smirk flickered across Naruto's face. "Gotta keep this going…" he muttered, determination edging his words. He drew in more chakra and repeated his sequence of hand seals. "Water Style: Water Wave!"Once more, a swirling surge of water erupted, crashing into Shukaku and forcing him to stagger under its weight.

Observing the success of Naruto's jutsu, his remaining clones shared knowing glances. One by one, they slammed their palms onto the shifting sands, echoing his actions. "Water Style: Water Wave!"Their voices rang out in unison, and columns of water roared across the mindscape. The collective force merged into torrents that carved pathways through Shukaku's dunes. The combined assaults churned the sand into muddy clumps, momentarily overwhelming Shukaku with the unexpected elemental synergy and tipping the scales in Naruto's favor.

Shukaku roared in rage, his enormous form rattling as layers of waterlogged sand sloughed off his limbs. His golden eyes darted around the chaos, seething at the relentless onslaught. "Using water… so you're not as dumb as that Kyuubi, huh?"he snarled. "But you'll still fail."

Naruto gritted his teeth, rallying his clones. "Keep going! Don't give him time to recover!" he shouted, voice cutting through the clamor. The clones nodded, fueled by his tenacity, and formed hand seals once more. They chanted in unison, "Water Style: Raging Water Wave!"

This time, their water jutsu erupted simultaneously from countless points around the battlefield, merging mid-air into a colossal tsunami. The thunderous wave swept forward, consuming dunes, reshaping the environment, and surging straight for Shukaku. The sky darkened further as the tsunami crested, a living wall of water against the twisted desert.

For an instant, the mindscape transformed into a raging sea. The swirling waters rose so high they nearly kissed the storm-filled sky. The clash of water against sand filled the air with a hissing fury, as grains met the deluge, mist rising in their wake, and clouds of wet grit hung like spectral curtains.

Behind Naruto, Gaara watched with wide eyes and a momentary flinch of panic—what if the tsunami swept him away? But as the wave smashed into Shukaku, the wet sand around the beast absorbed the brunt of the impact, dissipating the force and leaving Gaara unscathed, sheltered by his dome.

When the waters finally receded, Shukaku stood drenched and seething with fury. Huge chunks of sodden sand fell from his enormous body, pooling at his feet. The sight momentarily suggested that the mighty beast had been subdued by Naruto's relentless assault.

But the calm was short-lived. Shukaku's twisted grin returned, and he shook off the encroaching water with a violent display. "You think you're clever?"he snarled, his voice a rumble of thunder. "Let me show you what real power looks like."

The air around him began to scorch, the oppressive heat of his chakra intensifying as he drew upon his elemental mastery once more. A dry, suffocating warmth replaced the cool mist, pulling moisture from the air and sand. As his chakra surged, the saturated sand shifted and writhed, each grain losing water and reverting to a fine, powdery state—sharp and volatile under Shukaku's control.

Steam curled up in wisps as the water evaporated, and the sand around Shukaku glowed with a golden sheen. The ground shuddered with his raw power, and the environment responded in kind—oases of calm amid the storm vanished, replaced by razor-sharp dunes and treacherous geysers of sand.

Naruto gripped his staff tightly, refusing to give in, he wiped the sand from his eyes and focused. His heart pounded with a fierce determination as he realized that ordinary tactics would no longer suffice. His clones, recognizing the dire need for heightened power, entered Sage Mode, their forms resonating with amplified chakra and a sharpened resolve.

Naruto raised his staff, and his eyes flared as he surveyed the battlefield. The environment itself responded to his heightened senses: sand dunes quivered in anticipation, and distant lightning cast momentary glints off newly formed razor-sharp formations. He knew that now was the moment to take the offensive.

"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu! (Great Fireball Technique)"he bellowed, blending his wind with fiery chakra. A colossal fireball erupted, surging forward like a blazing comet. Simultaneously, his Sage-enhanced clones launched their own elemental attacks—(Water Style: Water Wave)water jets that hissed violently as they slashed through the air, (Fūton: Daitoppa! - Great Breakthrough), gusts of wind so fierce they uprooted sand, and earth-shaking (Doton: Retsudo Tenshō! - Tearing Earth Turning Palm)shockwaves that shattered the volatile dunes beneath Shukaku's feet. The blend of elements created a tumultuous symphony of power, each attack precise and devastating.

Gaara, not content to be a mere bystander, moved in tandem with Naruto's strategies. He synchronized his actions with the rhythmic onslaught, molding surging dunes of sand into swift projectiles and barriers. As Naruto's fire met Shukaku's shifting sand armor, Gaara manipulated the terrain to funnel weakened sections of the beast into vulnerable positions. At key moments, he would counter an incoming attack with a devastating "Sand Coffin,"trapping a fragment of Shukaku's limb while Naruto pierced through the openings with his elemental assaults.

The clones, now imbued with Sage Mode, coordinated flawlessly. One clone, its eyes glowing amber with natural energy, hurled a wind-infused blade that sliced through a tendril of sand, dispersing it into a fine mist. Another, brimming with water chakra, created a swirling vortex that disrupted Shukaku's sandstorm, turning his own environment against him. The combined potency of their attacks surged through the battlefield like a tidal wave of elemental fury, forcing Shukaku to constantly adapt and defend.

The difference in impact was palpable. The impact of each sage-enhanced strike reverberated through the ground, sending shockwaves that rattled even Shukaku's immense form. The clones moved with a grace and power that far exceeded their earlier efforts, their every action calculated and lethal. Naruto himself led the charge, seamlessly switching between fire, water, lightning, wind, and earth techniques as the battle demanded—an unpredictable flurry of elemental mastery that kept Shukaku off balance.

Gaara communicated through brief nods and hand signals, their teamwork a silent symphony in the chaotic landscape. He generated protective barriers just as Naruto unleashed a devastating "Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique,"the ensuing torrent engulfing one of Shukaku's arms and washing away the cursed seals that once fortified it. Gaara followed up by molding the damp sand into spikes that shot toward the exposed flesh.

Despite Naruto and Gaara unleashing a symphony of elemental assaults, coordinating flawlessly, their relentless attacks only served to further enrage Shukaku. Each strike against the colossal tanuki failed to halt his advance; instead, it fueled his fury. Shukaku's mad glee remained unshaken. His eyes widened with savage grin as he focused on the ever-growing mass of chakra at his maw.

The Bijuudama, still ballooning with destructive energy, became denser and darker, a perfect sphere of concentrated wrath that symbolized his unchecked power. Rather than feeling threatened by Naruto and Gaara's onslaught, Shukaku found their efforts amusing, his rage intensifying in response. This destructive orb of tailed beast energy continued to swell, undeterred by their interventions, positioning him on the brink of unleashing a cataclysmic attack that their combined might had yet to counteract.

His massive form towered over Naruto and Gaara, his golden eyes blazing with malice as he prepared to unleash the full might of his Tailed Beast Ball. The oppressive weight of his chakra bore down on them, suffocating and unyielding, yet Naruto stood unmoved.

Seeing Shukaku's colossal form raging in fury, Naruto's resolve only hardened. He glanced at Gaara, who was instinctively forming a defensive cocoon of sand around himself. The sight of his friend preparing for the worst sparked something deep within Naruto—a fire that refused to be extinguished.

On cue, Shukaku fired the Bijuudama with mad glee.

"Gaara," Naruto called out, his voice steady despite the chaos. "Stay back. I'll handle this."

Gaara's eyes widened in disbelief as he turned toward Naruto. "What are you—"

Before he could finish, Naruto had already stepped forward, planting himself firmly in the path of the incoming Bijuudama. The swirling mass of annihilation hurtled toward him with terrifying speed, warping the air around it with its sheer density of chakra. The ground beneath Naruto's feet trembled violently, but he didn't flinch.

With a determined roar, Naruto raised his staff high and slammed it into the ground. The weapon glowed as he channeled his chakra into it as it thickened under the influence of his chakra and dojutsu. The staff—once an unassuming tool—now radiated an aura of unyielding strength as it clashed with the Bijuudama.

The collision was cataclysmic.

A deafening shockwave erupted from the point of impact, sending ripples through the mindscape and scattering dunes like leaves in a storm. Naruto gritted his teeth as he pushed against the immense force of the Tailed Beast Ball, his muscles straining under the effort. Sweat dripped down his brow, but his resolve never wavered.

Shukaku's eyes gleamed with sadistic delight as he watched Naruto struggle. "You insolent little whelp! You dare turn my own battlefield against me?"he bellowed, his voice dripping with disdain. "I'm Shukaku! The One-Tail! You can't contain me!"

Naruto didn't falter. His Tenchigan flared, allowing him to see the minute cracks forming in the Bijuudama's structure. But even his heightened perception couldn't reveal a way to fully stop the devastating attack.

Gaara stood frozen in place, his mind reeling at what he was witnessing. He had always known Naruto was strong—unrelentingly so—but this? This was beyond anything he had imagined. 'He's… pushing it back, Gaara thought, awe flickering in his usually composed expression. He's actually doing it.'

But even Naruto's immense Sage mode strength wasn't enough to fully deflect the attack. The Bijuudama's density and power were overwhelming, its destructive energy pressing against him like an unrelenting tide. It seemed as though Shukaku's taunts would prove true—until something unexpected happened.

The staff in Naruto's hands, as if sensing the blonde's unyielding will and the presence of a dense chakra source, began to glow faintly, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light. Unbeknownst to him, Urashiki's fishing rod—now repurposed as his staff—was beginning to react to the immense chakra of the Bijuudama. Slowly but surely, it formed a connection to the gourd innocently hanging from Naruto's hip.

Kyuubi, now somewhat recovered, watching silently from within Naruto's mindscape, narrowed his crimson eyes as he observed the phenomenon. "So… that thing has more tricks up its sleeve,"Kyuubi muttered to himself, his deep voice tinged with suspicion.

As the connection between the staff and gourd solidified, something extraordinary occurred: the gourd began siphoning chakra directly from the Bijuudama. The swirling mass of destruction began to fizzle out, its energy rapidly drained into the gourd until nothing remained but faint wisps of dissipating light.

Shukaku staggered back in shock, his eyes widening as he realized what had just happened. "What?!"he bellowed, his voice laced with disbelief and fury. "What did you do?!"

Naruto blinked in surprise as the pressure against him vanished entirely. He glanced down at his staff and then at the gourd on his hip, a flicker of confusion crossing his face before he shook it off. There is no time to question what had happened—he needed to act.

Seeing Shukaku momentarily stunned by what had transpired, Naruto immediately pulled more Nature energy and enhanced his Sage Mode in an instant.

With Frog Kumite amplifying his already formidable physical prowess, he rocketed upward toward Shukaku with explosive speed. His muscles tensed as he raised his staff high above his head for a devastating strike.

"Take this!"he roared as he swung downward with all his might.

The impact was immediate and overwhelming. The staff connected with Shukaku's head, unleashing a torrent of elemental energy—fire, water, wind, lightning and earth—fused into a single, unstoppable assault. The sheer force of the attack sent shockwaves rippling through Shukaku's sand-laden form, forcing the beast to stagger for the first time since their battle began. The tendrils of sand around him crumbled under the onslaught, creating visible fissures in his form.

But even stunned, Shukaku wasn't beaten. The brief stun only ignited his fury further. In an instant, his anger manifested in a colossal surge of dark purple chakra that radiated outward, enveloping the entire mindscape in an eerie, otherworldly glow. The air thickened with this ominous energy, as if the very fabric of reality were bending under the weight of his wrath.

Sealing Chamber,

Kazekage Residence

The sealing chamber within the Kazekage Residence was steeped in a heavy stillness, the kind that seemed to press against the very walls. The dim light of chakra-fueled lanterns flickered uneasily, casting long, shifting shadows across the sandstone surfaces. The intricate sealing matrix carved into the floor glowed faintly, its rhythmic hum resonating softly through the chamber. In the center of the array, Naruto sat cross-legged, his hand resting firmly on Gaara's shoulder. The two jinchūriki faced each other in silence, their eyes closed as they confronted Shukaku in Gaara's mindscape.

Jiraiya stood near the edge of the matrix, his sharp eyes fixed on the fluctuating chakra emanating from the seal. His arms were crossed, but his posture betrayed his readiness to act at a moment's notice. The faintest twitch of his fingers hinted at his preparedness—a silent promise to intervene should anything spiral out of control. Yet, despite his calm exterior, unease gnawed at him.

The legendary Sannin had seen many things in his life—countless battles, unimaginable power—but this? Allowing two jinchūriki to wrestle for control against a bijū within such unstable circumstances? It was a gamble that made even him uneasy. His gaze lingered on Naruto for a moment longer than necessary, watching as the boy's chakra flared faintly in response to Gaara's. The faint glow in his closed eyes revealed the use of his dojutsu.

'Naruto's strong,' Jiraiya thought, his expression unreadable. 'He's grown so much since I first trained him… but this isn't just about strength.' His eyes narrowed slightly as he observed a sudden spike in chakra from the seal. 'Shukaku may be weaker than Kyuubi, but he's still a bijū—and there's always a chance Kyuubi might stir.' He didn't finish the thought aloud, but it lingered heavily in his mind.

The Kyuubi had been silent for almost a year now, his presence subdued and seemingly dormant within Naruto. But Jiraiya knew better than to assume that silence meant submission. Kyuubi was cunning and patient, and if he sensed an opportunity to stir trouble—especially in such a volatile situation—he would take it without hesitation. That was why Jiraiya had personally reinforced the seal on Naruto before this process began. It wasn't just about protecting Gaara; it was about ensuring that Kyuubi didn't turn this into something far worse than Shukaku ever could.

'If Kyuubi stirs…' Jiraiya clenched his fists slightly at the thought, already running through contingency plans in his mind. He had prepared a stronger version of the suppression seal specifically for this reason, designed to contain even Kyuubi's immense power if necessary. Still, he hoped it wouldn't come to that.

A distant rumble of thunder echoed through the building as if nature itself was reacting to the immense power being contained within these walls. The storm outside howled through the narrow corridors leading to the chamber, carrying with it grains of sand that whispered against the stone like ghostly voices.

Behind Jiraiya, Baki stood stiffly with his arms at his sides and his brow furrowed in deep thought. His gaze flickered between Jiraiya and the glowing array as conflicting emotions churned within him. On one hand, he felt an unshakable pride in Gaara—his Kazekage had endured so much and still stood strong despite everything Shukaku had put him through. On the other hand, there was an undeniable knot of fear in his chest.

'This is madness,' Baki thought grimly as he watched faint wisps of chakra rise from the seal like smoke from a dying fire. 'We're tampering with forces beyond our understanding… but what choice do we have? Gaara can't keep living like this.' His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he forced himself to remain composed.

Baki couldn't shake the image of Gaara's face from earlier—the calm resolve in his eyes as he stepped into this chamber to confront Shukaku. It was a look that reminded Baki of just how far Gaara had come since those dark days when Shukaku's malice had consumed him entirely. Yet, even now, doubt gnawed at him.

'What if it doesn't work?' Baki thought bitterly. 'What if we're making things worse?' He glanced at Uzumaki again—the boy who had somehow managed to reach Gaara in ways no one else ever could. There was something about Uzumaki that inspired hope even in situations like this… but hope alone wasn't enough.

Jiraiya's voice broke through Baki's thoughts like a blade cutting through fog. "The situation is not out of control," he observed calmly, the feeling he was getting was expected. "But it's not over yet."

Baki nodded stiffly but said nothing, his gaze fixed on the glowing array as if willing it to succeed through sheer determination. He could feel it too—a shift in the atmosphere that made every hair on his body stand on end. The sealing chamber felt like it was teetering on a knife's edge, and all they could do was wait and hope that Gaara and Naruto could hold their ground against Shukaku's overwhelming power.

As another wave of chakra rippled through the room, Jiraiya uncrossed his arms and took a step closer to the array. His hands hovered near one another as if preparing to form seals at a moment's notice.

"Stay sharp," Jiraiya said firmly without looking back at Baki. "If this goes wrong…"

"It won't," Baki interrupted quietly but resolutely. His voice carried both determination and desperation—a man clinging to hope despite his doubts. "Gaara will succeed."

Jiraiya didn't respond immediately; instead, his sharp eyes narrowed slightly as he caught sight of something changing within Naruto's chakra flow. A soft glow began emanating from Naruto's form as orange pigmentation spread around his eyes—the unmistakable mark of Sage Mode taking hold.

Jiraiya inhaled sharply but didn't move closer just yet; instead, he observed intently as Naruto's presence seemed to stabilize further within the matrix. 'He's using Sage Mode,' Jiraiya thought with both pride and unease flickering across his mind. 'Good… but how far will this push him?'

Baki noticed Jiraiya inching closer toward the array and turned toward him with a perplexed expression. "What is it?" he asked cautiously.

Jiraiya didn't look away from Naruto as he replied evenly, "He just entered Sage Mode." His voice carried both admiration and concern as he added under his breath, "Let's hope that's enough."

At that moment, the air around Naruto shimmered with an intense chakra followed by a sudden spike of Bijuu chakra, and a faint purple cloak began to envelop Gaara making both Jiraiya and Baki take an involuntary step back.

Gaara's Mindscape

Shukaku's Pov

I found myself strangely amused when Gaara first stepped forward to challenge me—this pitiful human daring to face the might of Shukaku after his recent setbacks at the hands of those Akatsuki bastards. The audacity of Gaara, the host I once shared dominion with, to stand defiant in my presence sparked a wry amusement within me. Yet, that amusement quickly soured when he brought along that Uzumaki... the "foolish brat," the Kyuubi jinchūriki. The sheer gall of it! Here I was, Shukaku—the very embodiment of a formidable tailed beast—and Gaara brought forth the one Bijuu he despised more than any other, a foolish human vessel meant to bind the Kyuubi. It was an insult wrapped in arrogance, a provocation that stung with personal contempt.

How dare he parade that Kyuubi, that pitiful, foolish creature, right before me? It was as if Gaara was taunting me with his inability to tame what he so scorned. The Kyuubi, that beast I loathed with a passion akin to my disdain for frail humans, was the one Gaara chose to display. This affront kindled a low, simmering irritation within me.

Then came the unimaginable audacity of that insolent Uzumaki brat—he had the nerve to not only drench me with his water jutsu but also to physically smack me with that blasted staff. Water! How dare he unleash that element on me, the Great Shukaku! Ever since I claimed the Kaze no Kuni as my home, I barely gave water a second thought except for the occasional picturesque oasis that dotted my domain like gems amidst the dunes. They were serene and beautiful, yes, but useless in the face of my true power. To see this human, this Kyuubi brat, wielding water so brazenly against me and even slapping me with his staff was an affront I could hardly contain.

In that moment, my amusement twisted into seething anger. The water from his jutsu had soured my normally amorphous sand into something sluggish and heavy—an insult to my mastery over this element. His physical assault had added salt to the wound, stoking my rage further. I felt my ancient fury stir as I prepared to unleash the true wrath of my Bijuudama. That was my ace, my trump card—the concentrated heart of destruction. It was time to show this insolent worm that even his daring jutsu was nothing in the face of my true power.

As I charged the Bijuudama, a dark, twisted grin curled across my monstrous visage. My thoughts were a venomous litany of curses aimed at that audacious Uzumaki—damn him, his insolence, his pathetic attempts at defiance. How pathetic must he feel, standing there like a cornered animal, thinking he could ever defy me? I sneered inwardly at his presumptuousness, ready to crush his spirit along with his body.

Then, an unexpected twist shattered my concentration—the very force of my Bijuudama was being siphoned away. My rage, which had flared at the sight of that insolent display and the nerve of slapping me with that watery trickery, now turned to bewilderment and fury as I realized what was happening. I felt the core of my power being absorbed, a violation of my essence. What treachery was this? My anger surged anew, unhindered by any semblance of fear or regret, fueled by pure, unadulterated wrath.

I cared not what Kurama might think of this petty occurrence; his opinion was irrelevant to me. The only thought that mattered was making that brat pay for his insolence. My monstrous form trembled with barely contained fury, each demeaning thought coalescing into a single, violent promise of retribution. I would not let this humiliation stand.

Now beyond outraged—furious and livid—I was ready to unleash my wrath on Naruto for his insolence, for physically daring to slap me with water and his staff, for thinking he could tame or defeat me. My mind buzzed with demeaning curses directed at Naruto, each more venomous than the last, as I prepared to exact my vengeance. The world around me was charged with my fury, and I vowed to make that brat regret every moment of his defiance.

General Pov

"I am the Great Shukaku!"he roared, his eyes blazing with unholy light as he loomed over them like a vengeful demon. "And no one—NO ONE—defies me and lives!"

The very fabric of the mindscape shuddered in tandem with Shukaku's escalating fury. It was as if the entire environment had become an extension of his will—an obedient servant to his rage. Sand particles stirred from the ground, swirling around him magnetically, converging in a chaotic dance as though drawn by an irresistible force. The dunes responded to his anger, shifting and reshaping into sharper, more treacherous forms. The air buzzed with charged anticipation, every grain of sand resonating with a sinister purpose.

As Naruto charged to finally take control of Shukaku, the scales of battle tipped further into a maelstrom of raw power and volatile emotions. The trembling sands and roaring winds seemed to echo Shukaku's inner tumult, affirming his dominance over this desolate realm.

As if Shukaku's thunderous roar was their call to action, Naruto sprang forward. His staff ignited in a blaze of fire that roared to life with furious intensity. His lavender eyes burned with unyielding determination as he charged headlong toward the monstrous One-Tail. Around him, newly formed shadow clones surged forward, each wielding Fire Rasengans crackling with volatile energy, their flames licking the air as they closed the distance with relentless zeal.

Above them, Gaara hovered on a floating island of sand, his expression tense but focused. Patches of dry sand swirled around him like restless spirits, responding to his will. Though Shukaku's dominance over the battlefield was overwhelming, Gaara had managed to wrest some control over fragments of the sand. He gritted his teeth as he manipulated the grains due to the ever growing push back from the Bijuu, sending them spiraling downward in an attempt to obstruct Naruto's path.

The sand twisted and coiled like serpents, forming walls and barriers in Naruto's way. Yet Naruto was relentless—his clones smashed through the obstacles with their Fire Rasengans, the explosive force scattering the sand into harmless plumes. The original Naruto leaped over a rising wall of sand with ease, his fiery staff spinning in his hands as he closed in on Shukaku.

Shukaku's eyes narrowed dangerously as he watched the scene unfold. His rage boiled over, a searing heat radiating from his massive form as he snarled at their defiance. These brats—these insolent whelps—dared to charge at him as if they stood a chance? His claws flexed, and for the first time in centuries, he decided to unleash an ability he hadn't used since his days of unchallenged dominance in the Land of Wind. If they wanted to see his wrath, they would have it.

"You dare stand against me?!"Shukaku bellowed, his voice a deafening roar that shook the heavens and the earth alike. The sheer rage in his tone reverberated through the mindscape, making the trembling louder. "You insolent worms! Let's see you survive this!"

The One-Tail raised a massive clawed hand, his movements deliberate despite his size. Slowly, he formed the Ram hand sign, his fingers crackling with glee as his chakra surged violently. The cursed markings etched into his body began to glow ominously, pulsing with a sinister light that spread like cracks across his sandy form. The storm around him roared to life, the sand swirling faster and faster until it became an impenetrable vortex of chaos and destruction.

"Sabaku Sōtaisō Fūin! (Grand Sand Mausoleum Seal)"Shukaku roared, slamming his claws into the ground beneath him.

Instantly, the sand coalesced into a massive dome that rose up from the ground with terrifying speed. The cursed markings on Shukaku's body surged forward like living tendrils, crawling across the surface of the dome and embedding themselves into its structure. The seal shimmered with an eerie light as it solidified around Naruto—the original—trapping him within its suffocating confines.

Naruto barely had time to react before the sands closed around him completely. The fiery glow of his staff was snuffed out as the Grand Sand Mausoleum Seal sealed him away in an instant. The clones outside flickered and vanished one by one as their connection to the original was severed.

Gaara's eyes widened in shock as he watched Naruto disappear within the cursed dome. He could feel the weight of Shukaku's chakra pressing down on him like a tidal wave, suffocating and inhuman. The patches of sand under Gaara's control faltered for a moment before he forced himself to focus.

Shukaku's jagged grin stretched impossibly wide as he loomed over the sealed dome. "Did you really think you could stand against me?"he sneered, his voice dripping with venomous glee. "You're nothing but insects beneath my claws! Now watch as I crush your precious little savior!"

The cursed markings on the dome pulsed ominously, radiating malevolent energy that seemed to sap the very air from the battlefield. Inside, Naruto could feel the crushing pressure bearing down on him from all sides. The sands pressed tightly, constricting his movements and making each breath a labor.

Outside, Gaara clenched his fists tightly, his heart pounding with a mix of rage and desperation as he stared at Shukaku. "Shukaku…" he whispered under his breath, his voice thick with determination. "I won't let you win!"

The reply he got was an unhinged, lunatic cackle.

And Cut!

That's it for this chapter folks.

AN:

A chapter dedicated on Naruto and Gaara doing their best to 'tame' Shukaku. It was a nightmare for me to coordinate everything and get everything asI wanted as I was nit sure how to make everything saw many new things in the chapter especially regarding Shukaku's abilities, let me know did you like them or not.

We also saw Naruto getting serious and showing us what his training has yielded and Urashiki's Staff and Guord finally making their connection and surprising Shukaku. Though I don't want to reveal much, keep an eye on the guord as it plays a very important role in the story. Though Gaara's efforts are not highly mentioned compared to Naruto, most of the battle he was doing his best to support Naruto by making his path to Shukaku is as obstacle free as possible. You can't expect him to beat a Bijuu who has a millennia of mastery compared to him when it comes to Sand, lol.

What do you think of the ending? Is it apt place to stop or maybe I should have gone another 2-3k?

As always, let me know in your reviews and do share your feedback and suggestions!

I'm very delighted to share that you can now read 4 early chapters on my patron. My user name is same BlackInfinity1289 on patron website.

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Black Infinity 1289,

Ja Ne.