Throughout the journey, Pakura remained silent, her expression cold and unreadable. She completely ignored Chiyo's subtle probing questions.
It wasn't until they returned to Sunagakure and she saw her former disciple, Maki, standing before her that her demeanor finally changed.
"Sensei!"
Without any hesitation, Maki threw herself into Pakura's arms, catching her off guard. Pakura stood frozen for a moment, staring at the girl who barely reached her chest.
Memories of their time together as master and student flooded her mind, and before she realized it, her hands had already embraced her disciple.
"Sensei... I thought I'd never see you again..." Maki sobbed as she clung to her.
Watching the scene, Chiyo waved a hand, signaling the others to leave and give them space.
Maki eventually lifted her head, her face streaked with tears—and even a small snot bubble forming. If it were anyone else, they would have been burned to ashes by now.
"You're all grown up, yet you still cry so easily..." Pakura sighed and wiped away Maki's tears, her voice softening.
"Sensei, why didn't you come back? Do you know how much I missed you?"
Pakura had no intention of telling her the cruel truth.
"Because I found something more important."
Maki's expression soured.
"But that doesn't mean you had to stay away from the village! And what about me—"
She suddenly paused, as if a new realization had struck her. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she stared at Pakura with curiosity.
"Oh! I get it now! It must be like one of those stories where a wounded kunoichi is saved by a handsome noble, and then she falls in love with him and has his baby! That's why you never came back, right?"
Pakura froze. That... that sounded familiar.
Wait, no! That's not what happened!
But... could it have happened that way?
If it had...
Her face suddenly flushed, and a hint of longing flickered in her eyes. But when she saw Maki's expression—one of absolute certainty—she quickly changed the subject, asking about her disciple's recent activities and the state of the village.
The next day, a rather... fantastical intelligence report landed on Chiyo's desk.
A love story between a handsome noble and a fallen kunoichi.
Chiyo's expression twisted as she read the report.
"This intelligence..."
"Lady Chiyo, aside from the reports on Maki's parents and friends, we also secretly hypnotized her last night. There may have been some personal embellishments, but the core information should be accurate."
The intelligence officer was absolutely certain.
If this were true, then Pakura could serve as the perfect link between the Land of Wind and Sunagakure...
Chiyo's mind raced with possibilities.
"And what about Rasa and Baki's movements?"
"Baki left with 165 loyal shinobi and is currently heading toward the southern region of the Land of Wind. However, Lord Rasa is not with him."
"The Twin Oases in the south..." Chiyo's face darkened as she stood up, pacing anxiously. Her aged body trembled slightly as she considered the implications.
It was becoming increasingly clear—Rasa was abandoning Sunagakure entirely.
"What are you planning?" she muttered under her breath, resentment creeping into her thoughts.
Just as Chiyo mobilized all her resources to track the Fourth Kazekage's whereabouts, a riot erupted within the village.
Fifty shinobi went rogue.
It started as a simple robbery—three shinobi looting a wealthy household. But once blood was spilled, the violence spiraled out of control. Sunagakure, already teetering on the edge, finally cracked like a pressure cooker with a broken release valve.
More shinobi joined the looting and killing.
By the time the village reacted, hundreds had already perished.
Dealing with the fifty captured shinobi, however, was another problem entirely.
In chaotic times, severe punishment was necessary—but executing all fifty might push the remaining shinobi toward defection. Sunagakure's unity was already fragile. If mass desertions followed, the village could completely collapse.
On the other hand, the civilians were like a powder keg, ready to explode. Many had lost friends and family in the riot. They demanded justice, insisting that the criminals be put to death.
Chiyo was at a loss. But then, an idea struck her—one that involved Pakura.
That night, she visited Pakura along with Maki.
After Chiyo left, a figure emerged from the shadows.
Danzo.
"Just when I was wondering how to get involved, she delivers an opportunity right to my doorstep... Chiyo really is considerate."
Danzo had been considering ways to exploit the chaos in Sunagakure, but now a perfect opening had presented itself.
As he pondered his next move, he noticed something strange about Pakura. She looked... uneasy.
"What's wrong, Pakura?" he asked.
Pakura's face was slightly flushed, but her eyes held firm resolve as she met his gaze.
"Lord Danzo... I want to have your child."
Danzo blinked, his expression unreadable as he studied her. She had only been away for a short time—how had she come up with this idea?
"Is that not possible?" Pakura asked, looking somewhat disappointed.
Danzo extended a hand.
Pakura instinctively leaned in, resting her head against it.
"Not now," he said. "We'll talk after this matter is resolved."
If not for the presence of Ichikawa Naomi, Pakura might have actually succeeded in her plan.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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