Bunpuku arrived at the visiting delegation's quarters and parted with Kazemori Masaki for the time being. He needed a good rest, but what concerned him most was why Shukaku had suddenly stirred earlier. He was not usually so restless.
In truth, Shukaku had once been quite a troublesome fellow. Other tailed beasts might have endangered humans unintentionally, and Shukaku had not exactly done so on purpose either, but he was the mischievous sort. When he was first sealed inside Bunpuku, he had been anything but well-behaved.
After spending so long with Bunpuku, however, Shukaku had gradually reined in his willfulness. Knowing he could not get what he wanted from Bunpuku, he had become more obedient. In a way, that too was a form of self-cultivation. So why had he suddenly started acting up again today?
Although Bunpuku did not think anything was wrong with the seal, he still needed to be careful. They were visiting Konoha Ninja Village, after all. If something went wrong and caused Konoha's residents to develop hostility toward Sunagakure Ninja Village, it would be very damaging to their future alliance.
After meeting the others in the delegation, Bunpuku found an excuse to stay alone in his room. His consciousness gradually sank inward, entering his mental space, where he met the enormous Shukaku. The moment Shukaku saw him, he said, "Bunpuku, did you sense it?"
Bunpuku was baffled. "Sense what?" he asked in surprise.
"It seems you didn't notice. Just now, for an instant, I sensed that fellow Son Gokū's chakra," Shukaku said.
"Who is Son Gokū?"
"The Four-Tails. He's never liked people calling him the Four-Tails, so he's always telling everyone his name. What an unreasonable fellow," Shukaku said.
Unlike the other tailed beasts, who only revealed their names to those they trusted, Four-Tails Son Gokū