The sun had already risen. A cool morning breeze swept over the mound, stirring their long hair until it became tangled together.
They had been locked in this awkward position for a long time. Pakura's lips were going numb, and she was about to drool. If he saw that, it would be mortifying.
She glared at Kaede again. "Let go."
Kaede's eyes darted around. "No."
"Are you going to let go or not?"
"Nope."
Pakura let out an indistinct grunt and struggled for a moment before releasing the hilt first. "You bastard!"
Kaede turned and tossed the short sword to the ground, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. "Likewise."
"Let go of me!" Pakura glared at him. The situation had been tense just moments ago, and she hadn't thought much of it, but her hand was still in his grasp. They were both sweating.
The palm of her fair hand was a little rough, and he could feel raised calluses, probably worn into her skin by years of handling Kunai or short swords. But the back of her hand was surprisingly smooth.
He had been holding it for a long time. Feeling its warmth, he was reluctant to let go. How could he bear to release it? "If I let go, you'll use Scorch Release again. Your Ninjutsu is dangerous. Why would I make such a stupid mistake?"
Pakura gritted her teeth, but there was nothing she could do. Female ninja were naturally at a disadvantage in physical strength compared to male ninja. They were better at precise Chakra control, and were generally more skilled at Ninjutsu.
The Taijutsu they used also mostly relied on exquisite swordsmanship to inflict damage.
Now that her hand was restrained, she had lost her chance to use Ninjutsu. Her Taijutsu was