The Bone-Binding Princess from Ryūchi Cave

Byakuya secretly complimented Pakura's back; it was truly beautiful, a pity it wasn't being used for cupping therapy.

Pakura, intending to leave, turned back to look at him: "That Azure-Black Serpent?"

"Not bad. You Sunagakure Ninja know of it too?"

"Of course. A few people died in the jaws of that Azure-Black Serpent just a few days ago. I advise you not to think about subjugating it as a Summoning Beast; its background is quite significant."

Pakura suddenly smiled: "If you take off your mask and let me see your face, I will help you."

"Pakura, it is I who am helping you right now. Besides, you and I can be considered companions."

"I never agreed to that."

Byakuya said confidently: "Actually, you have no choice."

She waved her hand and turned to walk away: "How could I have no choice? If I kill you, wouldn't the high-level officials of Sunagakure remain ignorant of Shimura Danzō's sinister plot?"

"How could Danzō have only me as a chess piece? Even if I died, there would be others to report it to the Sunagakure high-level officials."

"Heh." Pakura sneered abruptly: "I said, let me consider it. I don't want to become a chess piece remotely controlled by Shimura Danzō."

"I shall wait and see."

Pakura departed using the Body Flicker Technique.

When she performed this ninjutsu, there were distinct orange-red traces; it must have been Scorch Release chakra.

Byakuya withdrew his gaze and whispered: "Pakura has also used her Kekkei Genkai to innovate her own Body Flicker Technique."

According to the original story, there was another person in Konoha who played the Body Flicker Technique to perfection, and that was Uchiha Shisui.

He even earned the moniker "Body Flicker Shisui."

The current Shisui was still attending the Ninja Academy, and Byakuya wondered if he could make contact with this future wielder of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

He stayed in place for half a moment, waiting until there were no changes in the surroundings, before returning to his chosen hiding spot.

Last time, when he eliminated the Sunagakure spy San-Dan-Kun, Pakura had appeared suddenly to find him; Byakuya remembered that lesson vividly.

He chewed on a Military Ration Pill and took a sip of mountain spring water from his bamboo tube.

He pondered the details of Pakura's behavior during their negotiation.

Byakuya had relied on the name of Shimura Danzō to bluff her quite effectively.

Otherwise, how could Pakura have listened quietly to the end when she clearly harbored immense killing intent toward him?

Perhaps her physical exhaustion was one factor, but Byakuya would not think that way.

People in this world were more or less stubborn and sometimes irrational; if Pakura were determined to kill him, he would have no choice but to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to "retreat."

"The Flying Thunder God Technique requires a massive amount of chakra; after using it once, I need half a day to recover."

The mountain spring water was sweet. Byakuya dropped the Military Ration Pill into the bamboo tube and drank slowly, his thoughts racing and operating at high speed.

"No."

Byakuya stood up abruptly.

"The things I said could never have moved Pakura, who is so loyal to Sunagakure."

"There must be some other reason that left her disheartened and forced her to make a new choice."

"What exactly happened?"

He dismissed the thought of trying to subjugate the Azure-Black Serpent for now and drained the bamboo tube containing the water mixed with the Military Ration Pill.

Ignoring the chakra cost, Byakuya used the Storm Release: Body Flicker Technique to pursue Pakura.

He pushed his perception to its absolute limit.

Perhaps it was luck, or perhaps Pakura had intentionally leaked her aura, but Byakuya truly managed to track her down.

Pakura was sitting on a high tree branch, her two feet swinging back and forth.

Hearing the movement, she turned her head and glanced: "Kid, something the matter? Another Shadow Clone! You call me naive, yet you yourself are cowardly to the point of being despicable."

Byakuya's Shadow Clone smiled awkwardly: "I don't fear you laughing at me, Senior, but the killing intent on you is truly unsettling."

"What do you want with me?"

The Shadow Clone sat down brazenly beside Pakura, dangling his feet and swaying them gently just like her.

The scenery of the primeval forest was visible at a glance.

It wasn't actually very pretty; some areas were filled with colorful miasma.

"Don't tell me you're begging me to help you subjugate that big snake?"

"If begging you would be useful, I would beg immediately."

"It's useless."

"The Azure-Black Serpent comes from Ryūchi Cave, right?"

"Since you already know, why ask me? The snakes of Ryūchi Cave are vengeful; I don't want to provoke them at this juncture."

The clone asked curiously, "How did you know the Azure-Black Serpent came from Ryūchi Cave, Senior?"

"It wouldn't hurt to tell you; it's useless to Sunagakure anyway."

Pakura explained, "Sunagakure is poor, so some ninjas secretly take missions from the Bounty Exchange to supplement their household income. A few of them took the mission to kill the Azure-Black Serpent. Even though they knew they were no match for it, the reward was substantial, so they told their families their whereabouts and came here to hunt it."

"It seems they all died," the clone said.

"Mm."

"How could the Bounty Exchange have such a mission? To dare provoke Ryūchi Cave."

"It was likely posted by another ninja village or some organization. Snakes that come out of a place like Ryūchi Cave are treasures from head to tail. Their scales are used to forge weapons, their flesh and blood for research, and their organs for cultivation. The research projects are endless."

"I see."

"Oh, right. Its name is Bone-Binding Princess, and she is a young subordinate of the White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave."

"To think it's a female snake."

"Kid, I didn't expect you to have even heard of Ryūchi Cave."

"The powerful snakes of the ninja world mostly originate from Ryūchi Cave; naturally, I would know."

Pakura turned to look at his Shuten-dōji Mask: "Bring your real body here. I swear to the heavens, I will not lay a hand on you."

"Really?"

"Cowardly as a mouse."

"Fine, I will trust you once more, Senior."

He dispelled the Shadow Clone Technique.

A few minutes later, Byakuya's real body sat down beside Pakura.

The two were very close.

He could even smell the faint, sweet fragrance on Pakura, like a Desert Mallow growing stubbornly in the wild.

"Speak. What exactly is the matter?"

Byakuya's tone was certain: "The Sunagakure Ninja stationed in the Land of Rivers forced you to make these changes?"

"Hmph." Pakura's expression shifted slightly. "You are very clever. Shimura Danzō sending you here was definitely his mistake. A mission like this should have been carried out by his most reliable confidant."

He nodded, agreeing with Pakura's words: "There is indeed a lot of room for maneuvering."

"Kid, I am interested in the things you said, but I don't know how many people in Sunagakure would follow me."

"Rasa must die. If conditions permit, Chiyo and that Ebizo must die as well."

Pakura sighed, "Chiyo and Ebizo cannot die."

"Why?"

"They are the last remaining pillars of Sunagakure. Most of the elders left over from the Second Great Ninja War have already passed away."

"Can't you just become the pillar of Sunagakure yourself?"

"A single tree cannot prop up a falling house. The One-Tail Jinchuriki is also dying, and I worry that I cannot subdue that monster alone."

Byakuya seized the opportunity: "You help me subdue the Bone-Binding Princess, and I will help you suppress Sunagakure."

"Do you think that's possible?"

"I can just disguise myself as a ninja from your Sunagakure."

"What a joke! Sunagakure is not a group of fools. If I truly did as you said, I wouldn't be a spy for your Konoha, but a puppet through and through." Pakura said with disdain, "What I want is peace! And land, resources, and a population for Sunagakure to develop!"

"When all is said and done, Senior, you've made up your mind not to release the hawk until you see the rabbit?"

"It is you who won't release the hawk until you see the rabbit; you are too impatient," Pakura said.

Byakuya let out a breath, having gained enough insight into Pakura's thoughts.

To put it concisely, she had been backed into a corner by the ninjas within Sunagakure who yearned for peace.

The reason it had come to this was also due to her own nature.