Gaara covered his head with both hands, his expression clearly saying, "No one has ever hit me like that!"
And that was true.
His mother, Karura, had never struck him but she had died the moment he was born, using her last will to protect him through the sand.
It was precisely because of her death, the unstable seal of the tailed beast within him, and the betrayal he experienced in childhood especially from Yashamaru that Gaara had become the person he was now.
Because of Shukaku, Gaara was constantly tormented. Unlike a stable seal, Shukaku's influence leaked out continuously, disturbing his mind and emotions.
To suppress Shukaku, Gaara couldn't sleep.
If he did… the beast would take over.
Naruto, however, was completely different.
Inside Naruto Uzumaki resided Kurama, but the seal placed by Minato Namikaze the Eight Trigrams Seal was designed to both restrain and gradually allow controlled leakage of chakra.
Not only did it prevent Kurama from breaking free, it also allowed Naruto to survive without constant mental collapse.
At this moment, Gaara stared at Chinatsu.
She casually waved the hand she had just used to hit him and said lightly:
"I know you haven't slept in years."
"I know your head never stays quiet."
"And I know that thing inside you is constantly whispering, pushing you, making you hate everything."
She tilted her head slightly.
"But… I can help you."
"What…?!"
Gaara's expression changed instantly.
Shock.
Suspicion.
A flicker of hope he didn't even realize existed.
His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to reject the idea outright but Chinatsu didn't give him the chance.
She suddenly appeared behind Naruto and pushed him forward like a demonstration.
"Look carefully."
"You're both Jinchūriki."
"And yet he looks like that."
Naruto blinked.
Gaara froze.
Indeed… the difference was obvious.
Why?
Why were they the same… yet completely different?
"Don't worry," Chinatsu said, tapping Gaara's forehead lightly. "Konoha specializes in sealing techniques."
After all
Mito Uzumaki once sealed the Nine-Tails.
Then Kushina Uzumaki.
Then Minato Namikaze.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to cripple Orochimaru's arms.
Konoha's sealing lineage was no joke.
"But first…"
Chinatsu crouched slightly.
"Look into my eyes."
Gaara instinctively did so.
In the next instant
Her eyes shifted into Mangekyō Sharingan.
The world shattered.
When Gaara regained awareness, he found himself standing in a vast inner space.
Behind him
Shukaku.
Sealed, but restless.
"Oi, Naruto. Come here."
Before Naruto could react, Chinatsu dragged him into the same space using her ocular power.
Through the resonance between tailed beasts and her deliberate manipulation their inner worlds overlapped.
A bizarre yet historic "meeting" occurred.
Naruto and Gaara stood side by side.
Behind them
Kurama and Shukaku.
The two tailed beasts stared at each other.
Silence.
Then
Kurama narrowed his eyes.
"…You still look pathetic, Shukaku."
Shukaku bristled instantly.
"Say that again, fox!"
Kurama smirked, tails swaying behind him.
"You're still the weakest. Nothing's changed."
Shukaku roared.
"You want to fight?!"
Kurama yawned.
"You'd lose."
"Again."
The two began bickering immediately exactly like in canon, their long-standing rivalry evident.
Naruto and Gaara turned to look at their respective beasts.
Naruto frowned.
"Hey! Stop talking like you own me!"
Kurama sneered.
"You are just a cage."
Naruto snapped back without hesitation.
At the same time
Gaara and Shukaku's interaction was colder.
More distant.
Less emotional.
Shukaku's voice carried mockery.
Gaara's responses were sharp but hollow.
It wasn't a conversation.
It was hostility.
Chinatsu, watching everything, chose not to interfere.
This wasn't about control.
It was about understanding.
At their current stage, neither Naruto nor Gaara could truly cooperate with their tailed beasts just like in early Naruto canon.
But awareness… was the first step.
After a while
She clapped her hands.
The space dissolved.
The three returned to reality.
"Well?"
"How was the conversation?"
Naruto scratched his head.
"…Annoying."
Gaara remained silent.
But something in his eyes had changed slightly.
Chinatsu didn't push further.
Instead, she waved her hand.
"That's enough for now."
"I'll help stabilize your situation later."
Then she turned to Naruto.
"…Lift your shirt."
Naruto froze.
"Eh?! Sister, what are you doing?!"
He crossed his arms like he was defending himself.
BAM!
Chinatsu punched him on the head.
"I'm checking the seal, idiot."
Naruto laughed awkwardly and lifted his shirt.
On his abdomen
The complex formula of the Eight Trigrams Seal.
Chinatsu leaned in, observing carefully.
"Double-layered Four Symbols Seal… as expected of Minato."
Her Sharingan spun slowly.
"Good thing I can replicate it… though it'll cost chakra."
After a moment, she straightened up and turned toward Gaara.
Her hand gathered chakra.
"You too."
"…Take off your shirt."
Gaara hesitated.
Chinatsu added casually:
"It shouldn't hurt much."
"Probably."
Gaara: "…Probably?"