Two days later, Pakura took the initiative to seek out Makoto again.
Over the past two days, the ninja Pakura had brought with her had left Konoha and returned. They had probably gone to investigate or confirm something.
"Have you made up your mind, Miss Pakura?" Makoto asked from behind his desk, seated in his chair.
"What can I bring to your village?" Pakura asked Makoto. Or rather, what did Konoha want from her?
There was no such thing as a free lunch. Pakura had considered a few possibilities.
She still had not said what she wanted, but for someone in her position, was there anything higher to pursue besides becoming Kazekage?
Yet compared to Rasa, who had already firmly secured his position, her chances were pitifully low. If she insisted on fighting for something, she would only end up bloodied and broken.
But if she did not fight, her eventual fate would not be much better than death.
"I simply admire you, Miss Pakura," Makoto said. "Someone like you should not have to suffer such treatment."
Admire me?
A strange look appeared on Pakura's face.
"I think it would be better if you made me offer something, Makoto," she said. "Otherwise, I cannot accept your village's help with peace of mind."
Konoha and Sunagakure were now allies and friendly neighbors, but that friendship rested on Sunagakure's past aid to Konoha. Konoha owed Sunagakure a debt of gratitude, and debts of gratitude were always the hardest to repay. That was why Makoto wanted to grant Pakura a favor.
Pakura, meanwhile, wanted to set a price for that favor in advance, lest she be unable to repay it in the future.
"I would never make things too difficult for you, Miss Pakura," Makoto said. "I am merely securing a friend for