IN NARUTO AS KURAMA

In a quiet corner of Sunagakure, Gaara sat alone, silently playing with the sand in front of him. His sunken eyes showed no emotion, and his presence exuded a strange, unsettling aura.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps crunching against the sand echoed behind him.

Without looking, Gaara raised his hand. The sand around him reacted instantly, surging like a tidal wave and forming a protective wall. It was as if his instincts knew danger was near.

A voice broke through the tense silence, laced with an air of sarcasm.

"Are all kids these days so quick to kill?"

Gaara turned slowly, his indifferent gaze locking onto the figure behind him. He didn't reply, but with a flick of his wrist, a bullet of sand shot toward the stranger with deadly precision.

The man barely moved. His body flickered and disappeared, reappearing behind Gaara.

"And here I thought kids just played with toys," the man teased.

Gaara didn't flinch. Instead, the sand around him surged to defend its master, forming a shield that repelled the man's attack.

Shiro, unimpressed, cracked his knuckles.

"This is interesting. Let's see how strong this little raccoon's Jinchūriki really is."

The sand shield trembled under Shiro's pressure, and with one crushing blow, it shattered. Gaara was thrown back, his body slamming into the ground.

"Who... are you?" Gaara hissed, his eyes narrowing as bloodlust began to fill the air.

But Shiro only grinned.

"Just someone here to give you a wake-up call."

Gaara's hands trembled as he placed them together, forming a single seal. His voice was low and steady.

"Fake Sleep Technique."

His eyes closed, and the ground beneath him began to quake. Sand erupted violently, swirling around him like a storm. The air grew thick with chakra as the monstrous form of Shukaku began to emerge.

A deep, guttural laugh echoed through the area.

"Finally! I'm free!" Shukaku bellowed, his massive body towering over the village's rooftops.

The One-Tail's wild eyes scanned the surroundings, settling on Shiro.

"You... Who dares to wake me?!"

Shiro looked up at the massive creature with a bored expression.

"Hey, raccoon. Can you stop yelling? You're embarrassing yourself."

Shukaku growled, his sand swirling angrily.

"You dare mock me?! I'll crush you, fox or not!"

A massive blast of sand shot toward Shiro.

"Sand Sleet!"

The attack was followed by another, as Shukaku unleashed his signature move.

"Wind Style: Air Bullet!"

The air shook as the high-density chakra-filled attack roared toward Shiro. But Shiro simply sidestepped, the attack missing him by mere inches.

"You're still as predictable as ever, Shukaku," Shiro muttered, shaking his head.

Before Shukaku could attack again, Shiro's figure flickered, appearing atop Shukaku's massive body. His hand pressed against the beast's head, Nine-Tails chakra radiating from his palm.

Shukaku froze, his eyes widening in shock.

"You... it can't be. Nine-Tails?! What are you doing here, and how did you take on human form?!"

Shiro smirked, leaning closer.

"Long story. But let's just say I'm here to take care of this kid."

Shukaku struggled, but Shiro's chakra overwhelmed him. The sand beast roared in frustration.

"You think you can just take my Jinchūriki and use him?! What are you planning, fox?"

"That's none of your concern," Shiro replied calmly. "All you need to know is that your power will be useful soon enough."

With a final surge of Nine-Tails chakra, Shiro forced Shukaku back into Gaara's body. The massive form of the One-Tail dissolved into sand, leaving the unconscious Gaara lying on the ground.

As Shiro dusted off his hands, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the distance. Sunagakure shinobi, led by Elder Chiyo and her brother Ebizo, rushed onto the scene.

"Gaara!" Chiyo exclaimed, her sharp eyes narrowing as she took in the sight of the mysterious man standing over her village's Jinchūriki.

Ebizo quickly inspected Gaara's body, frowning. "His vitals are stable. No visible injuries."

Chiyo turned to Shiro, her tone cautious but firm.

"Who are you, stranger? And why are you here in our village?"

Shiro waved his hand dismissively.

"Relax, old lady. I'm just a friend of your Kazekage. I handled a little... situation."