Kawanishi fought back the churning nausea in his stomach, forcing himself to swallow the wriggling insect and the thick saliva in his mouth. Once the bug entered his belly, he felt the oppressive fear surrounding him gradually dissipate. That fear had felt like sinking into a bottomless, silent ocean; he had chosen to swallow the insect without hesitation rather than face that horror again.
It was strange. He hadn't sensed any actual killing intent from the owner, yet the moment their eyes met, he had trembled uncontrollably, falling into an abyss of dread. This happened even though the man hadn't even made a move to look at him directly.
Kawanishi felt like he was utterly pathetic. He gasped for air, and as the terrible nausea faded, a doubt began to surface in his mind. Since the Food Pill actually contained a bug, why was no one else reacting? Didn't they feel the texture of an insect while chewing? Was it possible that everyone was simply swallowing them whole?
He scanned the people around him with an expression of disbelief. They all still wore satisfied smiles, as if savoring a rare delicacy. His confusion grew.
Then, a realization struck him. Just before he discovered the pill was actually a bug, the Jashin Religion mark on his palm had suddenly burned hot. That sharp pain had snapped him out of the intoxicating trance induced by the Food Pill.
Could it be that I can see the truth behind the pills only because I am a follower of the Jashin Religion?
But that didn't make sense either. The owner was also part of the Jashin Religion, so why would he let another member see the pill's true form?
While he remained lost in thought, the lively atmosphere inside and outside the merchant guild suddenly vanished, as if someone had pressed a mute button. The owner—or rather, Simu—looked toward the door with a hint of surprise. The crowded entrance fell silent as people wordlessly backed away, instinctively clearing a path.
A boy, appearing to be only six or seven years old, walked into the shop. He carried a giant gourd on his back that was taller than he was.
The eyes of the people on both sides were filled with fear and a deeply hidden resentment.
As Simu's understanding of Yin Style ninjutsu grew and his research into the soul deepened, he had become able to easily perceive the emotions of those around him. More accurately, he sensed the fluctuations of the soul in different states.
If he wasn't mistaken, this child was Gaara, the youngest son of the current Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village and the Jinchuriki of the One-Tailed Shukaku. Since the Akatsuki aimed to capture the Tailed Beasts, information regarding the Jinchuriki had long been gathered.
Even without the intelligence provided by Zetsu, Simu could sense the boy's uniqueness the moment he saw him. He was cold and lonely, like a silent, lifeless desert shrouded in eternal night; a single glance was enough to make one feel suffocated.
Besides the soul of the Jinchuriki himself, Simu could clearly sense another soul within the boy—violent, twisted, and overflowing with terrifying killing intent.
If that thing were released, it would likely choose to destroy everything without hesitation, Simu thought. His intense interest in the Tailed Beast manifested as a smile on his face.
"Excuse me, child, is there anything you need?"
Gaara froze for a moment. Instead of answering, he knit his brows slightly and asked, "You aren't afraid of me?"
He seemed surprised. No, he was extremely surprised. He found it hard to believe that he couldn't sense any fear or loathing from the man in front of him. All he could clearly perceive was... curiosity?
For Gaara, this was an entirely new sensation. In the entire Hidden Sand Village, there wasn't a single person who wasn't afraid of him. The villagers feared the monster inside his body, and over time, that fear had turned into hatred. He had become the "ominous" one in their eyes.
These people even included his own relatives.
An image flashed through Gaara's mind, and his small body suddenly emitted a horrific malice. This unconscious leak of aura caused everyone nearby to turn pale with fright. Some even complained internally, wondering why the Anbu hadn't taken the monster away yet or why the Kazekage had let him out at all.
Kawanishi also looked at the boy called a monster, but he didn't feel his usual fear. If he had to say why, the dread this monster inspired couldn't compare to the man standing behind the counter.
Under Kawanishi's incredulous gaze, that man actually placed his hand gently on the boy's head.
"Spider Lily never turns away a guest, especially a cute child like you."
Everyone present who heard those words and saw that gesture wore an expression of total disbelief.
A cute child? You're calling this monster, who kills people at the drop of a hat and wants to destroy the village, a cute child?
Even Gaara himself looked utterly bewildered. Since the day he was born, it seemed no one had ever dared to speak to him like this, not even his own siblings. This was a truly novel experience for him.
However, the experience didn't last long. Several Anbu ninjas quickly appeared at the shop's entrance.
"Gaara, it's time to go back."
The leader of the Anbu was a Jonin of the Hidden Sand Village and Gaara's uncle, Yashamaru. He was currently staring at Simu with a very wary gaze.
Simu simply gave a faint smile and moved his hand away. As Gaara was leaving, Simu pressed a few Food Pills into his hand.
"Consider these a meeting gift for you, little brother."
Gaara looked at the Food Pills in his hand with astonishment before being led away by Yashamaru and the other Anbu. As a Jinchuriki, he had no freedom; his every move was controlled by the Anbu. Today's unexpected outing was a rare occurrence.
Upon returning home, Gaara was predictably met with a harsh reprimand from his father, Rasa.
"Gaara, you are the village's strongest weapon. You must shoulder the responsibility of protecting the village, not spend your days thinking about going out to play!"
Facing his father's scolding, the young Gaara lowered his head and whispered, "I just wanted to go out and see the world."
Unexpectedly, these words only fueled Rasa's rage. "If you can't even control a small desire like that, how can you control the monster inside you? If you can't control that monster, then you are a worthless Jinchuriki!"
With a wave of Rasa's hand, a powerful gust of wind blew Gaara away, slamming him hard against the wall. His siblings, Temari and Kankuro, hid in their rooms, shivering and too afraid to make a sound.