Puff!
"Hm? They disappeared that easily?" Gaara observed as his clones vanished, expending what little energy they were given with minimal effort. "This is efficient."
He pondered what Shukaku was doing deep below. It seemed as though the beast was slowly acclimating to the environment, much like Gaara himself, who couldn't maintain chakra for long until his body fully accepted the natural energy. Shukaku—a creature composed entirely of energy—appeared to be undergoing a gradual conversion.
Gaara relied on the sand beneath his feet to sense Shukaku's actions below. From one perspective, Shukaku was created from ninshu, he thought. So, he can absorb natural energy with a bit of adjustment, but what happens if he replaces all his chakra with purely natural energy?
This question lingered in his mind, leading him to further speculate. Obviously, he'd change, become stronger, and perhaps be able to use both natural energy and chakra. But would that make him a Sage Creature or simply a more powerful tailed beast?
"Well, that's not my concern," Gaara muttered. "All I care about is surviving this fate—ideally without having to die again."
Burp.
"I guess I feel like eating, though it's more out of convenience than need."
Resolving to start his training, Gaara walked further into the endless desert. There was no clear direction here, but he soon found a relatively cool spot suitable for his purposes. With a determined amount of chakra, he formed a hand sign.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Ten clones popped up behind him, and Gaara felt a sense of satisfaction. "These should be enough to get started."
However, the exertion left him with a dull headache, as he'd used up the natural energy within himself. He immediately sat in a meditative pose, reconnecting with his surroundings. Almost as if the landscape recognized him, natural energy surged into him, possibly even more potent than before, filling his reserves to around 40% again.
The natural transformation began as Gaara sank further into the desert's flow. From his clones' eyes, he observed his surroundings. Though typically calm, his goal for these ten clones remained unknown—even to him.
The clones exchanged knowing nods. Some began manipulating the sand, practicing new skills, honing techniques, and creating constructs. Others ran across the desert, testing their agility. A few stood back, surveying the landscape, their focus attuned to the surroundings.
Unsurprisingly, a few desert creatures lurked nearby, likely drawn by the clones' movements. Gaara recalled that he'd already killed and eaten a few of these creatures—though technically, it had been Shukaku who had done so.
Two of his clones formed a hand sign, activating a seal as they glanced at the others, then disappeared from sight. In the next instant, they reappeared in a bustling desert filled with people. This was the famed skill of a certain Yellow Flash—the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Courtesy of Shukaku.