Don't Speak...

Pakura.

In his memories, she had once been his classmate.

A capable and beautiful woman, she excelled at Scorch Release and was extremely powerful.

Among the younger generation in the village, only he and Pakura were close to the position of Kazekage. Yet Pakura seemed to have no interest in becoming Kazekage. She preferred teaching children at the academy and was an exceptionally gentle, considerate Teacher. Even when she returned exhausted from missions, she would still drag her weary body along to train with her students.

She was also a fiercely loyal supporter of Sunagakure, and a highly capable one at that.

According to the original future, during this war, she would become a Ninja celebrated as a hero of Sunagakure. Her strength was undoubtedly first-rate.

But Rasa knew... barring any accidents, she would later be sent to Kirigakure as a sacrifice from the defeated nation begging for peace, only to be surrounded and killed.

What could be said about the Fourth Kazekage?

A pathetic man who longed to make his Ninja village stronger but lacked the power to do so.

He toiled tirelessly, panning for gold to support the village. He sacrificed one of the village's heroes for peace, yet he did not have the Third Hokage's luck or a best friend to take the blame. In the end, he had not only screwed over his own son, but also his own Ninja village.

Of course, ever since Rasa arrived, all of that had changed.

After all, he had a cheat!

Now all he lacked was money.

With a slight frown, he lowered his head and muttered helplessly, "I need to get some money as soon as possible."

If he wanted to grow stronger, he had to spend money!

Yet just as his words fell...

"You're short on money?" Pakura, who had come out with him, suddenly swept her head back in a dashing motion and said calmly, "That makes sense. You haven't taken a mission in a month, and the village isn't doing well right now. It's only natural that you don't have any money."

She turned her head, looked at the stunned Rasa, and rolled her eyes.

"What are you staring at me like that for?"

"Nothing~ I just, uh... think you've gotten a lot prettier lately."

Rasa quickly changed the subject, but Pakura still gave him a Byakugan. In truth, after quickly sorting through the memories in his mind, he understood that Pakura had always been like this—carefree and seemingly careless, yet an exceptionally dependable companion.

She loved Sunagakure, so whenever anyone in the village needed help, she was always more than willing to lend a hand.

But borrowing money...

He still felt a little embarrassed~

After all, if he spent it on the cheat... he probably would not be able to pay her back anytime soon.

Yet before he could say anything else...

"Your mouth has gotten a lot sweeter, and your face isn't as sour as before."

Pakura spoke again, saying something that made Rasa want to hit a woman.

"Looks like the rumors in the village that you were Mentally Devastated because of the Third Hokage were true. Your whole..." She frowned and scrutinized Rasa from head to toe. "It's like you've become a completely different person."

After saying that, she shook her head again and sighed...

"Forget it. Why am I even worrying about you? Take it~"

She directly pulled out her somewhat worn little coin pouch and tossed it to Rasa.

"I just got back from a mission today. I handed over most of it, so this is all I have left."

"..."

Rasa glanced at the pouch, which was still a little warm to the touch. After all, it had been taken from Pakura's chest... Ahem. He quickly coughed twice, thanked her, and was just about to toss the pouch back and say he did not need it when—

"No need to thank me. You have to pay it back!"

Pakura turned and left, waving her hand with carefree flair.

"And... remember to survive."

"Hey..." Rasa shouted, but looking at where Pakura had vanished into the night, he could only shake his head helplessly and mutter, "Fine, I'll treat it as a loan~"

As for when he would repay it?

Now that he was here, he had saved Pakura's life.

As her lifesaver, was it really too much to pay her back a little later?

"Not at all. Paying it back at all would already be incredibly conscientious."

Rasa shook his head with feeling, but just as he finished speaking...

"What would be incredibly conscientious?"

A familiar, soft, sweet voice came from behind him.

"Karura?"

Seeing the smiling figure standing some distance away, Rasa instinctively shuddered. But after a moment, he had no idea why he had shuddered for no reason. What was wrong with borrowing a little money from someone in his own village?

That was perfectly normal~

So he quickly put on a smile and walked up to Karura. "Why are you here?"

"You hadn't come back so late, and I was worried something had happened to you, so I came to take a look." Karura gazed at Rasa gently. "Then I saw..."

"Um... there's nothing between Pakura and me, really!"

I swear!

Having been influenced by melodramatic dramas, he knew he had to make his position clear immediately.

Yet...

"Mhm~" Karura covered her lips and let out a charming laugh. "Of course I know there's nothing between you and Sister Pakura~"

Her crescent eyes were filled with amusement.

"Rasa... you've really changed a lot!"

"Heh... heh, really?"

Rasa's heart skipped a beat. He finally realized that his reaction had been a little strange, so he quickly raised his head in melancholy and muttered vaguely.

"People change..."

Before he could finish—

She suddenly threw her arms around him.

"Are you still grieving over the Third Kazekage?" Karura hugged him tightly and said gently, "I believe the Third Kazekage would not want you to remain lost in grief forever. Rasa... I will always be by your side."

"..."

You really misunderstood, but what was there to explain now?

Rasa smiled and hugged Karura back. Hugging his own Wife was not against the law, was it~

"If you're short on money in the future, you can tell me. I've saved up a little too, so don't refuse~" Karura directly interrupted Rasa before he could say anything. Her originally gentle face suddenly turned serious. "Listen to me, Rasa. And..."

She fell silent for a moment...

"Is war coming?"

"Mhm!"

After responding, Rasa said nothing else and simply nodded.

"You're going too?"

"Mhm!"

"Can I go with you?"

"No!!!"

This time, Rasa did not pretend to be a nodding machine. He hurriedly shook his head.

"Your body isn't fit to be a Ninja anymore."

Karura had once been a Ninja as well, but she had been injured on a mission. Her body was now somewhat weak, so she had retired from being a Ninja.

"Wait for me properly in the village."

"I..." Karura had wanted to say something else, but when she saw Rasa's serious gaze, she smiled and nodded. "All right, I'll wait for you in the village, Rasa..." Her eyes burned as she looked at him. "Promise me that you'll come back alive." As she said this, a faint blush rose to her cheeks. Even in the dark night, Rasa could see it clearly. "When the time comes, we'll get marri—"

Before she could finish—

"Don't speak. Kiss me!"

Rasa hurriedly leaned in. Could she just say things like that?

You're trying to get me killed!