7 Shukaku

"I want to know the answers to that question just as much as you and my father do, Baki" There was no point in beating around the bush anymore. I doubt it would do me any good, Baki had me under a microscope.

"What do you mean Gaara? How do you not know what's happening with One Tail? You are its jinchuriki, have you gotten it under control out of the blue?" It hit me right when he said that. That's what they were looking for, not to see if I was an imposter. They were hoping that I had suddenly gotten Shukaku under my control and contained his power. I should've realized it sooner, why would they care about my behavior change unless it meant I would be a better jinchuriki. I guess I had my father in mind when I said that, I wasn't sure about Baki's feelings toward me.

"I don't know, when I woke up today I didn't hear Shukaku's voice in my head or his emotions." Baki's eyes widened at my response.

"You went to sleep?" I didn't get what he meant for a minute but then I got it. The only thing that kept Gaara from being controlled by Shukaku was him constantly being awake. He couldn't sleep or Shukaku would manage to leak his power out of the seal and control me. It was what lead to rampages in the past and caused my horrible moods. Not being allowed to sleep wore out all of a person's patience quickly.

"I didn't realize it until now, yes I went to sleep," I told him with an unsure tone. How would he handle such news?

"This is great news Lord Gaara! This means you have finally gained control of the One Tail, you must tell me how you managed to do it." Baki showed genuine joy and happiness at this supposed revelation. I felt a little relieved that he was happy for my apparent control of the One Tail. At least someone was happy for me due to my better health instead of better weapon status.

"I don't know how to do anything of the such, I didn't do anything that would result in my control with Shukaku." Now Baki looked confused at what I had told him. I guess it would be hard to understand since it was very doubtful that Shukaku simply stopped trying to take me over and escape. Hopefully, Baki was starting to understand the situation better now I was explaining it to him.

"Show me your seal Gaara, I must examine it to see if it has any answers to this mystery." I removed my shirt and turned around to show Baki my back. The seal that kept Shukaku locked away inside me had been inscribed on my back between the shoulder blades. It was a Grand Sand Entrapment Seal, the strongest seal that the Hidden Sand possessed. Compared to Naruto and Killer B's seals it was actually much weaker. It was because of this weak seal that I previously hadn't been allowed to sleep, along with being so easily influenced by Shukaku's power. If they had used a stronger Sealing Jutsu then it wouldn't have been an issue, something that frustrated me very much.

"Gaara, your seal…." Baki's voice trailed off in a tone that wasn't very reassuring. What was wrong with my seal? Had it weakened?

"What is it Baki-sensei? What has happened to my seal?"

"Have you done something to the seal? Tried strengthening or something of the sort?" His question puzzled as well as worried me. Why would he need to know if I had tried to alter the seal? Shouldn't he already know that I had very little knowledge about sealing techniques? There was no way I had enough knowledge to even attempt to safely change the seal.

"No, I haven't even looked at the seal for some time. Tell me what's going on, what's happened to the seal?" I was getting impatient, why couldn't he just tell me already so I'd be able to breathe easy.

"There is no doubt in my mind Gaara, your Grand Sand Entrapment Seal has gotten considerably stronger since I last saw it. This easily explains why you haven't felt Shukaku in any capacity. Not much could ever make it through this strong of a seal." I frowned at this revelation Baki had just given me. The seal had gotten stronger? When had that happened? There were getting to be far too many questions racing around inside my head. Firstly I had to think about when Shukaku had stopped influencing me. That was easy when I had been sent here and put in Gaara's body. A chill went down my spine as I thought that.

The most likely scenario was that the seal had been strengthened by my arrival in Gaara's body. Why or how this happened, I hadn't the faintest clue. Nevertheless, it was the most probable scenario out of anything else. I needed to think of something to tell Baki that could explain the seal being strengthened. Or maybe I could just act like I didn't know anything about it since they had no evidence to suggest I had tampered with it.

"I don't know how my seal was strengthened but isn't that a good thing Baki-sensei? Shukaku can't control me anymore even if I sleep." This was great news, if Rasa tried to order me to use the Playing Possum Jutsu it wouldn't work because my seal had strengthened from my arrival. Things were finally working in my favor.

"I'll have to report this to Lord Kazekage, I know this isn't in your skill range and the people who could have done this are very few in number. For now, I imagine that Lord Kazekage will be happy you have greater control over One Tail. You'll still be able to loosen the seal at your own discretion of course." Baki could not imagine how disappointed my father would actually be about this whole ordeal. Instead of his son gaining control of his Tailed Beast, he had only gotten the seal tightened. It left a lot of questions about who or what brought me here and altered Gaara's seal. Someone was playing a game with me as a piece on their chessboard. I could only hope I wasn't a pawn on that board. Yet another mystery on a long list to solve.

"It's getting late Baki-sensei, I'd like to catch up on all the sleep I've missed if you don't mind," I told him as casually as I could. I didn't want him sticking around too long or finding out what I was about to do. He would never allow it if he learned of my plan. I stopped thinking about my plan when I saw his face though. Baki's eyes were watery and he looked so emotional, more so than I'd ever seen him.

"Gaara, I've watched you hurt, suffer, and kill for years because of you being a jinchuriki. I didn't want to get close to you for fear of losing my life. I was just like everyone else around you, ignoring what was happening to you. Watching you this morning train with your brother and sister make me realize something. I was neglecting my responsibility as your sensei to be there for you. Which I now deeply regret." His face was a mask of regret and guilt as he spoke. Not only did he admit that it was his fault for neglecting me, he also called me Gaara. Never before had he called me just Gaara, always Lord Gaara. I felt a heart twist as I remembered all the times I had wished someone had been there for me. The cold and neutral gaze was all the help I had ever received from him. Baki had changed, that much was undeniable. A man who I had viewed as the jonin in charge of me. Hearing him acknowledge my pain made it feel as if years of pain had been wiped away from my memory. Someone had apologized for alienating me from the whole village. It wasn't some random villager either, it was someone who could've helped me at any given time. Part of me wanted to yell and scream at him that he didn't get to say sorry, he was the one that assisted in maintaining my loneliness along with nonstop suffering.

Now I was crying, something that I hadn't done for a long time. I didn't want to cry in front of Baki but this was too much. Gaara wasn't supposed to feel anything like this until he met Naruto Uzumaki. In less than a day, I'd completely flipped who Gaara was on its head. I hadn't intended to but it was how things ended up. My pain had been acknowledged. This was what all jinchuriki felt at some point, with few ever being lucky enough to get acknowledgment from others. I felt a hand on my shoulder which pulled me from my emotions. Baki had regained some of his regular composure but had a calm look in his eyes.

"I have decided I'll be there for you Gaara, I'll teach you everything I know. I'll continue teaching your siblings as well until there is nothing more you can learn from me." I took a deep breath and composed myself. This must be how Naruto felt about all of his teachers. Iruka, Kakashi, and especially Jiraya must've meant the world to him if this is how they talked to him. The message of support was so clear, Baki wouldn't ignore me any longer.

"Thank you Baki-sensei, you don't know how much weight you took off my shoulders by saying all that. I think enough has been said tonight, we both need to process this all. I'll see you tomorrow at training." Saying just that's as hard enough, thankfully Baki understood and nodded. This was a huge change in dynamic in such a short time. I'd never have thought so much would happen in one day. Baki slowly walked toward the door to leave. Right after he opened the door though, he turned and gave me a look. I wasn't sure how to describe the expression, only that it made warmth envelop me. With that, he closed the door and left.

I spent hours laying on the floor of my room thinking about what had just transpired. It made me happy, I was no longer a monster in someone's eyes. It wouldn't be long before everyone's view of me would start to change. I needed to be ready for it, I couldn't break down every time someone acknowledged me. Baki's reaction had been highly unexpected from me. Baki hadn't exactly had much limelight in the original series. His main appearances had been at the chunin exams and when Deidara attacked the Hidden Sand to capture Gaara. He'd been a very one-dimensional side character, maybe not even that. Here though he was an actual human being, that felt regret along with guilt.

It was time to push this whole thing aside for now. I still had to do what I intended to do since going to the Sand Archives. I sat up from laying on the floor into a cross-legged sitting position, putting my hands together on my lap. It was time for me to meet Shukaku, I couldn't put it off any longer. Ignoring Shukaku wouldn't do me any good in the long run, neither would being afraid of him. I slowly loosened the seal just a little. Then I entered into my mindscape, a place where I could see and talk to a visual representation of Shukaku.

I "opened" my eyes to find myself in a large yellowish hallway. Looking at the floor I found it covered with a few inches of water. I calmly started walking down the hallway, knowing all too well what I would find at the end. Eventually, I arrived at a large prison gate made of sandy grey metal. In Naruto's mindscape, these gates were dark red and made of wood. Of course, that wood was far stronger than normal wood since the seal gave it special properties. I peered through the gate only to see nothing but darkness. I frowned in confusion, I was supposed to be able to see Shukaku.

A ghoulish roar answered my question as an enormous figure threw itself at the gate. I stumbled back in fear while a deafening clang resonated throughout my mind as the figure's body met the gate. The gate shook hard and I felt a slight burning sensation on my back right when the large figure hit the gate. The figure bounced off as the seal held firm.

"YOU'VE GOT SOME NERVE HUMAN," roared the furious Shukaku. I had never thought Tailed Beasts could be so deafening. Shukaku yelling made me feel as if I had needles going into my ears. Remembering not to be put on the defense, I calmly walked back to the place I once stood before Shukaku had charged the gate. I needed to show no fear or he will think that I am weak.

"TIGHTENING THAT SEAL WAS A HORRIBLE INSULT TO ME. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG?"

"Calm yourself Shukaku, I've come to talk"

"CALM MYSELF? HOW DARE YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO, INSIGNIFICANT HUMAN". I was getting tired of his rage very quickly. In my mindscape, I still had my gourd full of sand, so I made myself a sand chair to sit on. It was kinda weird since none of this existed outside of my mind. It all felt so real, especially Shukaku making it so loud that my ears wanted to die.

"Shukaku, I have come to you with a proposal that could benefit both of us. Don't scream again it's very annoying and I can leave anytime I want. Then you'll be back under the full force of the seal, all alone." That really shut him up quick, I didn't think that it would be so easy. Then again, the threat of him being all alone, locked away inside of here was probably very daunting. Maybe I had been a little too cruel with that threat, Tailed Beasts were just as smart as regular people were. They didn't ask to be jammed inside of someone along with being forced to give up their power. I decided I could be a little nicer, not like I could remove Shukaku without dying anyways.

"What is this proposal you speak of?" I guess that at the very least had piqued his interest.

"Long ago, a man who was the Third Kazekage studied you and your current jinchuriki. That information became the key to manipulating iron sand. I want you to help me manipulate iron sand, in return, I'll give you something that you want." It was risky but worth the dangers to get iron sand manipulation mastered.

"Groveling at my feet like all the ones before you, just for a chance to get some of my wisdom and power eh? How typical of you humans"

My expression probably read as a classic "Can you believe this guy?" look. It was gonna be hard to get used to Shukaku's arrogance and get him to tone it down. I decided to just move past his brash comment and go back to business.

"In exchange for helping me with the iron sand, I will loosen the seal so you can hear and see what I do. You'll also be able to talk with me if you desire, though if you try anything to take advantage of the deal, I'll lock you straight back up." I could see the gears turning figuratively behind Shukaku's black and gold eyes. I wouldn't be surprised if Shukaku didn't take my offer this time around but it would only be a matter of time before he crumbled. Loneliness, boredom, and being unable to do anything about it would eventually drive him to accept this deal if he rejected it now. After that, I could be a little nicer to him since I'd built a base for our partnership. Hopefully, Shukaku would at some point grow to like me at least a little. It was also possible he could drive me insane but I didn't want to think about that possibility.

"Have you made up your mind Shukaku? What will your answer be?"