Pakura! Become My Person!

"I have a disciple named Maki."

Byakuya listened quietly.

Pakura rubbed her face: "The Sunagakure Ninja in the Land of Rivers actually had her tell me that they don't want to die; they just want to live."

"I have no choice. The way they look at me is terrifyingly fervent, as if I have become the only hope they have for peace."

"Ever since the Third Kazekage died, too many things have happened to the village and the country, and too many people have died because of it."

"The Feudal Lord sits high above, too lazy to even take a glance, leaving all affairs to Sunagakure while he wallows in his own decadence."

She said a great deal, which could be considered opening her heart.

But it left Byakuya at a loss.

Not long ago, they were fighting to the death, and he had used every ounce of his strength to barely manage a retreat from Pakura.

In the blink of an eye, she had actually started complaining to Byakuya.

The wonders of fate are truly unbelievable.

After pouring her heart out, Pakura realized her impropriety and sighed: "I am under too much pressure; I actually started 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's current age.

"Cooperating with Konoha actually has no downsides for Sunagakure."

"How could there be no downsides? Submitting to others, enduring humiliation—if I do this, I will surely bear the brunt of the insults."

"Once they see the benefits, they will stop cursing. Most people won't move until they see the results; once there are tangible benefits, they will naturally become your loyal subjects."

"What about Konoha? Konoha is arrogant and overbearing toward Sunagakure!" Pakura said.

Byakuya laughed: "How could Konoha dare? If Sunagakure stops warring with Konoha and becomes an ally fighting side-by-side, whether it is the Third Hokage or the future Fourth Hokage, they will have to coax and flatter you."

"What do you mean?" Pakura was puzzled.

"You are inside the game and cannot see the board. Tell me, when I came here to show goodwill and advocate for an alliance between the two villages, why did the high-level officials of Sunagakure treat it as proof of Konoha's weakness?"

Pakura said: "Kumogakure and Iwagakure are both at war with Konoha, and Kirigakure is also sharpening its blades along the eastern coastline..."

"No, that's not what I mean."

"Then what do you mean?" Pakura was even more confused.

Instead, it was Byakuya who sighed: "People—specifically, Konoha's ninja—whether they win or lose, will suffer heavy casualties in this great war. It will take over a decade for a new generation of ninja to grow up."

In the original story, it wasn't until the Fourth Shinobi World War, after the Konoha 12 had grown up, that Konoha could be considered to have recovered its vitality.

This shows just how deep the damage of the Third Shinobi World War was to Konoha.

It was precisely this war that led to the death of Nohara Rin and the corruption of Uchiha Obito, causing the subsequent Nine-Tails Incident and the deaths of the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina.

It was also this same war that led to the death of Yahiko of the Akatsuki and the madness of Nagato, turning him into a pawn for Black Zetsu.

He continued: "From the perspective of cooperation, it is beneficial to both you and me. Ōnoki of Iwagakure, Kumogakure... uh, the son of the Third Raikage and their two jinchūriki, the Mizukage and his twisted policies—these are all our great enemies."

"Is this what you want to say, or is it what Shimura Danzō wants?"

"Danzō? His mind is entirely tied to the position of Hokage. Don't listen to his talk about 'for the sake of the village' or the existence of Root being to protect the towering tree that is Konoha. Hmph, it's all just a grand facade!"

What Byakuya needed to do most right now was to distance himself from Shimura Danzō.

He needed to make Pakura believe in him, rather than Shimura Danzō.

This was crucial!

It was also the "benefit" Byakuya wanted to secure for himself.

With a community of shared interests, he could steadily lie low.

To survive in the ninja world, powerful strength and reliable companions are extremely important.

Even Black Zetsu had to hide beside Uchiha Madara, and later, hide within the Akatsuki.

Pakura was stunned for a moment and asked: "With your current strength and status in Konoha, can you guarantee the benefits that Sunagakure wants?"

"Who do I represent by coming here?"

"Shimura Danzō."

"There you have it. I complete the mission and report back to Danzō; everything will proceed logically."

Pakura was silent for a long time before saying: "You are being generous with someone else's wealth."

"It's just borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha. Besides, that man Shimura Danzō will betray you sooner or later, but I won't."

"You have grown up very quickly."

"I've been working quite hard."

"I hope that when this is done, the person signing the military alliance with me is you."

"It must be me." Byakuya made his promise.

Up until now.

The primary subject of Pakura's negotiations was no longer Konoha or Shimura Danzō; it had shifted to Byakuya.

She extended her hand.

Byakuya gripped it tightly.

It was very smooth.

He let go.

"Very well, can you help me subdue the Bone-Binding Princess?"

Pakura stood up: "I will go with you, but I will not intervene. Relying on your own strength to make the Bone-Binding Princess of Ryūchi Cave your Summoning Beast is the cornerstone of our cooperation, for I must see your true power."

The goal was achieved.

During their first conversation, she had merely been considering it, and the target of cooperation had been Konoha and Shimura Danzō.

This conversation, however, was about Byakuya himself.

The Azure-Black Serpent he had constantly mentioned had also transformed from a request for Pakura's help into proof that Byakuya possessed the capability to work with her.

The result was not bad.

Barely acceptable.

"Let's go."

Byakuya took the lead, sprinting toward the location of the Azure-Black Serpent.

Pakura was momentarily dazed.

This youth from Konoha was more composed and cunning than she had imagined.

Indeed, two diametrically opposed traits—composure and cunning—were gathered within a single person.

"Hey, Pakura-senpai, let's go!"

He stood on the canopy of a tall tree, waving at her.

Pakura immediately arrived using her Scorch Release Body Flicker Technique.

This time, Byakuya perceived it clearly: she erupted with a burst of scorching chakra, evaporating the air in front of her to briefly create a vacuum, which significantly boosted her acceleration. After landing, she would breathe and repeat the process.

It had to be said, Pakura used her Kekkei Genkai with divine mastery.

"What is it?" she asked curiously.

"Your application of the Body Flicker Technique is admirable, Senpai."

"Heh, stop with the flattery. You are the same; your Kekkei Genkai is extremely practical. The speed at which you release ninjutsu is the fastest I have ever seen."

"Storm Release, a Kekkei Genkai composed of lightning and water."

"Scorch Release, a Kekkei Genkai formed from wind and fire."

"What about Rasa's Magnet Release?"

"The gold dust he controls is, simply put, sand mixed with gold."

"In your opinion, whose Magnet Release is stronger, Rasa's or the Third Kazekage's?"

Pakura said with great confidence: "Without a doubt, the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release is stronger. His power even surpassed that of the First and Second Kazekage."

The two sped along side by side.

"Have you found any clues regarding the disappearance of the Third Kazekage?"

Pakura shook her head: "No."

He guided her step by step: "Who else has gone missing in Sunagakure?"

"Missing? Many people have suddenly vanished."

"I am referring to the high-ranking officials."

Pakura said: "Chiyo-sama's grandson, Sasori; his puppetry is very formidable."

"Sasori's parents were killed by Konoha's Hatake Sakumo, weren't they?"

"You know, yet you still ask me."

"If Sasori wanted revenge but received news that Hatake Sakumo had committed suicide, would he resent the Third Kazekage for failing to protect them?"

"..."

Pakura stared at him, dumbfounded, and could not help but stop.

"You, you—is this information you know, or are you guessing?"

"Guessing."

"I don't believe you. You must have a source of intelligence."