"I have a student named Maki."
Byakuya listened quietly.
Pakura rubbed her face. "The Sunagakure Ninja in the Land of Rivers told her they didn't want to die. They just wanted to live."
"I couldn't help it. The way they looked at me was so intense, as if I'd become their only hope for peace."
"Ever since the Third Kazekage died, so much has happened in the village and the country. So many people have died because of it."
"The Feudal Lord sits high above us, too lazy to spare us a glance. He leaves all affairs to Sunagakure and indulges in a life of drunken revelry."
She spoke at length, baring her heart.
But Byakuya didn't know how to respond.
Not long ago, they'd been fighting to the death, and he'd only barely managed to retreat from Pakura after a tremendous struggle.
Then, in what felt like the blink of an eye, she'd started pouring out her troubles to him.
Fate was so strange it was hard to believe.
After getting it all off her chest, Pakura realized she'd gone too far and sighed. "I'm under too much pressure. I can't believe I'm complaining to an enemy."
"I understand you."
"You understand me? You're just a child... Ha... What could you possibly know?"
Byakuya was indeed a child, but his soul was older than Pakura was now.
"Cooperating with Konoha wouldn't actually hurt Sunagakure."
"How could it not? I'd be bowing to someone else and enduring humiliation. I'd definitely be blamed for it."
"Once they see the benefits, they'll stop blaming you. Most people won't act until they see what's in it for them. Give them tangible benefits, and they'll naturally become your loyal people."
"What about Konoha? Konoha will lord it over Sunagakure!" Pakura said.
Byakuya smiled. "How could Konoha dare? Sunagakure would stop fighting Konoha and become an ally on the battlefield. Whether it's the Third or the future Fourth Hokage, they'd have to keep you happy and treat you with respect."
"What do you mean?" Pakura asked, puzzled.
"You're so caught up in the situation that you can't see it clearly. Tell me, I came here to show goodwill and propose an alliance between our villages. Why would Sunagakure's higher-ups take that as proof that Konoha is weak?"
"Because Kumogakure and Iwagakure are fighting Konoha at the same time, while Kirigakure is also massing along the eastern coast..." Pakura said.
"No, that's not what I mean."
"Then what do you mean?" She was even more confused.
Byakuya sighed instead. "People—more specifically, Konoha's ninja. Win or lose, Konoha's ninja will suffer heavy casualties in this war. It'll take more than ten years for a new generation of ninja to grow up."
In the original story, Konoha didn't recover its strength until the Fourth Shinobi World War, when the Konoha 12 had all grown up.
That was enough to show how deeply the Third Shinobi World War had wounded Konoha.
It was precisely that war that led to Nohara Rin's death and Uchiha Obito's fall to darkness, which brought about the Nine-Tails Incident and the deaths of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and Uzumaki Kushina.
That same war also led to Yahiko of the Akatsuki dying and Nagato becoming deranged, turning him into Black Zetsu's pawn.
He continued, "From the standpoint of cooperation, this benefits both sides. Ōnoki of Iwagakure, Kumogakure's... uh, the Third Raikage's son and their two Jinchuriki, the Mizukage of Kirigakure and that village's twisted policies—all of them are our enemies."
"Is that what you want to say, or is it Shimura Danzō?"
"Danzō? His mind is completely fixated on the Hokage Position. He's always saying he's doing everything for the village, and that Root exists to protect Konoha, the great tree. Hmph, what a load of self-righteous nonsense!"
What Byakuya needed most right now was to distance himself from Shimura Danzō.
He needed Pakura to trust him, not Shimura Danzō.
That was especially important!
It was also the "benefit" Byakuya wanted to secure for himself.
With a shared interest strong enough to bind them together, he could lie low in safety.
To lie low in the Shinobi World, he needed formidable strength and reliable allies.
Even Black Zetsu had to lie low at Uchiha Madara's side, then later in the Akatsuki.
Pakura fell silent for a moment before asking, "Given your current strength and standing in Konoha, can you guarantee the benefits Sunagakure wants?"
"Who do you think I represent here?"
"Shimura Danzō."
"Exactly. I complete the mission and report back to Danzō. Everything will fall into place."
Pakura was silent for a long time before she said, "You're making promises with someone else's resources."
"Just borrowing a flower to offer to Buddha. Besides, Shimura Danzō will betray you sooner or later. I won't."
"You're growing quickly."
"I work hard."
"I hope that when this succeeds, you'll be the one signing the military alliance with me."
"It'll definitely be me," Byakuya promised.
Up until now, the one Pakura was negotiating with had been neither Konoha nor Shimura Danzō. It was Byakuya.
She held out her hand.
Byakuya clasped it firmly.
It was very smooth.
He let go.
"All right. Can you help me subdue Bone-Binding Princess?"
Pakura stood up. "I'll go with you, but I won't step in. Making Bone-Binding Princess of Ryūchi Cave your Summoning Beast through your own strength is also the foundation of our cooperation. I want to see your true abilities."
He'd achieved his goal.
In their first conversation, she'd only been considering the idea, and the potential partners had been Konoha and Shimura Danzō.
This time, she was talking to Byakuya himself.
The Azure-Black Serpent he'd been talking about had gone from something he wanted Pakura's help with to proof that Byakuya was capable of working with her.
The result wasn't bad.
It was just about acceptable.
"Let's go."
Byakuya set off first toward the Azure-Black Serpent's location.
Pakura looked dazed.
This young man from Konoha was more composed and cunning than she'd imagined.
Indeed, composure and cunning were two seemingly opposite qualities, yet they coexisted in one person.
"Hey, Pakura-senpai, let's go!"
He stood atop the canopy of a large tree and waved to her.
Pakura immediately used her Scorch Release Body Flicker Technique to catch up.
This time, Byakuya sensed it clearly. She released a burst of scorching chakra, vaporizing the air in front of her and briefly creating a vacuum. This greatly increased her speed. After landing, she took a breath and repeated the process.
He had to admit, Pakura had mastered her Kekkei Genkai to a remarkable degree.
"What is it?" she asked curiously.
"Your use of the Body Flicker Technique is impressive."
"Ha, save the flattery. You're impressive too. Your Kekkei Genkai is extremely practical, and I've never seen anyone release ninjutsu as quickly as you do."
"Storm Release, a Kekkei Genkai formed from lightning and water."
"Scorch Release, a Kekkei Genkai formed from wind and fire."
"What about Rasa's Magnet Release?"
"He controls Gold Dust. Simply put, he mixes gold into the sand."
"In your opinion, whose Magnet Release is stronger, Rasa's or the Third Kazekage's?"
"Without a doubt, Lord Third Kazekage's Magnet Release is stronger. His power even surpassed that of the First Kazekage and the Second Kazekage," Pakura said confidently.
The two raced side by side.
"Have you found any clues about the Third Kazekage's disappearance?"
Pakura shook her head. "No."
He patiently led her on. "Who else has disappeared from Sunagakure?"
"Disappeared? Lots of people suddenly vanish."
"I mean someone among the higher-ups."
Pakura said, "Granny Chiyo's grandson, Sasori. He's very skilled in the Puppet Technique."
"Sasori's parents were killed by Konoha's Hatake Sakumo, right?"
"You already know. Why ask me?"
"If Sasori wanted revenge but then heard that Hatake Sakumo had killed himself, might he resent the Third Kazekage for failing to protect his parents?"
"..."
Pakura stared at him, dumbfounded, and couldn't help stopping.
"You—you—did you know that, or are you guessing?"
"I'm guessing."
"I don't believe you. You must have a source of information."
Before you continue