Gaara was the only person in this world who had truly witnessed the power of the Otsutsuki. He hadn't even had the chance to fight, Otsutsuki Urashiki's weapon had pierced straight through his body, stealing his power in an instant. It had taken him days just to recover. And he was also the only one who had seen the true strength of Akatsuki. Whether it was Zaraki Kita, or Uzumaki Nagato, known as Pain.
And now, "So, they've gone." His voice was low, tinged with loss, and something else. Fear. I can't do that. I wouldn't do that. The absolute defense he once took pride in hadn't even been able to stop a single fishing rod from Urashiki. That overwhelming difference in power, on an entirely different plane, was something Gaara couldn't even begin to imagine overcoming. Let alone charging into the Otsutsuki's world.
The one who told him all this was Shukaku. "Hey, Gaara! Five-Tails and Son Goku went too! Don't worry, Five-Tails will be fine, so those bastards won't die either!" Shukaku's sharp voice echoed as it sat atop the round table. Gaara sat at the edge of the bed, fingers interlocked, head lowered into his arms. Shukaku couldn't see his face. But it knew. He's shaken.
With a hop, it jumped off the table, then onto the bed, then onto Gaara's shoulder, finally climbing onto his red hair. "Hey, Gaara, even Tailed Beasts have things we're bad at. You humans? You're even worse! Five-Tails only went because their abilities perfectly counter those guys, so don't, hey!"
It slipped. Rolling awkwardly onto the bed, but continuing its rant, it scrambled up and began smacking Gaara with its tail. "They're the ones who exiled our power! Sending them to that world just means they'll wreck those bastards for us! Gaara, you idiot, what are you sulking about?!!!" Its voice nearly lifted the roof.
Gaara reached out, caught the tail, and lifted Shukaku up. "Let go of me, you brat!!!"
"Can't you let me have a moment of peace, Shukaku?"
"Let go of my tail, you stupid kid!" Shukaku screeched.
Gaara smiled faintly and set it down beside him. "I really am a cowardly Kazekage. I don't even have the resolve to protect this world." He paused. "I'm afraid." He admitted it plainly. Yet his expression remained calm, like still water. His green eyes held quiet peace.
Shukaku flicked its tail, hesitated briefly, then spoke. "Aren't you the Kazekage? Isn't your job to protect your village? If you went, who would protect this place? Humans can't do everything, you've gotta admit that." It was comfort. From a Tailed Beast.
Gaara smiled. "Thank you."
Shukaku looked up at him, then lowered its head. After a long silence, "Gaara."
"Mm?"
"Five-Tails, will come back safely, right?"
"Five-Tails? You mean Kokuo?"
"Obviously!"
Gaara tilted his head slightly. "I didn't know you two were close."
"Who said we're close?! He's just my mount! My mount!" Still can't be honest.
Gaara chuckled softly. "I see. Then yes. He'll probably come back."
"YOU BRAT!!! What do you mean 'probably'? He definitely will!!!" Shukaku's voice exploded again.
Gaara only smiled. After an awkward pause, Shukaku shouted, "I want candied chestnuts!!! Ten kilos!!!"
While Shukaku planned to "take revenge" by devouring Gaara's least favorite snack, Gyuki had no such intention toward his own host. Killer Bee rarely spoke without rhythm, but now, he didn't. "So, you're saying those guys went to that world?"
"Yeah. Son Goku going is one thing, but I didn't expect Kokuo to go too. Damn it, why did that guy have to get involved?" Gyuki spoke from Killer Bee's shoulder.
Nearby, the Two-Tails, Matatabi, resting beside Yugito Nii, responded calmly. "When Kokuo decides something, it's final. And as for Son Goku, even more so. At this point, all we can do is hope they return safely."
"I hope so too," Gyuki said. "But the situation isn't good. Once they're there, the Otsutsuki will target them immediately."
"That's possible," Matatabi replied. "But compared to us, the Otsutsuki likely want Akatsuki gone even more."
Killer Bee glanced between Yugito and Gyuki. "For some reason, this doesn't sit right with me. Is the Otsutsuki threat really that serious?" He hadn't seen Urashiki. Neither had Yugito.
Gyuki nodded. "They are beyond human capability. Even at full strength, we would lose. What Akatsuki is doing is building a shield for this world." "If they win, this world will know peace." "If they fail, this becomes the battlefield." He paused. "I don't care about human wars. But this is the world the Sage of Six Paths created. No matter their reasons, they are protecting it." "I acknowledge that."
Yugito frowned slightly. "It's strange. They took your power, yet you don't resent them."
Matatabi nodded. "We were born like this. Our power was originally given to us by the Sage. Returning it isn't so strange." "Though not all of us think that way. Shukaku and Kurama, for example."
"Those two aren't unreasonable," Gyuki added. Then he turned to Killer Bee. "Bee. The Otsutsuki are far beyond anything you can imagine. If Akatsuki fails, we'll be the ones facing them. We can't let our guard down."
Yugito stood. "In that case, I should inform the Raikage."
"Wait." Killer Bee stopped her. "Don't tell him. Not yet."
Both Yugito and Gyuki were stunned. "This is important intel," Bee continued, "but right now, it's useless."
Yugito frowned, studying him for a moment before turning away. "Understood." She left.
Only Killer Bee and Gyuki remained. "B! What are you doing? The sooner we prepare, the better! If Akatsuki fails."
"Eight-Tails, you don't understand humans." His tone was unusually serious. "The Five Kage Summit was called to deal with Akatsuki. The Allied Shinobi Forces are preparing. But it's been half a month, and nothing has progressed." "Why do you think that is?"
"What do you mean?"
"They know Amegakure is Akatsuki's origin. But no one knows if they're still there. Those people turned Konoha upside down, everyone fears their strength." "If it's confirmed they're gone." "Then war truly begins."
"Then tell them!" Gyuki insisted.
"With just words? Who would believe me? I believe you, but no one will believe me."
Gyuki fell silent. "Humans."
"What?! Is that true?!" Mei Terumi shot to her feet, completely losing composure.
Before her stood Utakata, former host of the Six-Tails. "At least, that's what Saiken told me." He paused. "And, Mizukage-sama, Kita-sama has gone with them as well."
CRACK. The pen in Mei's hand snapped. Of course, if Akatsuki isn't here, then neither is she. "This information, who knows it?"
"All the Tailed Beasts."
That meant, all five great nations. Mei frowned deeply. "Utakata. This must not be shared. Whether Akatsuki is in Amegakure, no one knows. As for Saiken." She paused. "It's just a pet from your childhood." "No one will believe that. Don't take a pet's words seriously."
Utakata froze, then understood instantly. "I see. My apologies, Mizukage. I was overthinking." He bowed slightly. "In that case, I'd like permission to leave for training."
Mei nodded. "Granted. Leave immediately."
As he turned to go, "Be careful."
"Yes."
Outside, Utakata's expression darkened. Within him, Saiken spoke softly. "What's wrong?"
"I'm worried, about the war that's coming."
"But Akatsuki isn't here. Why would there be war?"
Utakata gave a faint smile. "You wouldn't understand, Saiken."
"Then explain it to me!"
"Even if I did, you wouldn't understand." He paused. "None of you would."
Saiken's tails swayed in confusion. "The Three-Tails just wanted you to know Akatsuki went to fight the Otsutsuki. If they win, great. If they lose, you'll become the second line of defense. Isn't that simple?"
Utakata looked ahead. "Because humans only feel danger after it happens once."