Pakura?

[Ping!]

[System notification: New environment detected—Sunagakure City]

[Environment Adaptation quest triggered: Desert Trial]

[Quest details: Survive in Sunagakure City for three days and complete the following challenges:

1. Drink the local water without getting diarrhea (Clean and hygienic!)

2. Adapt to the temperature difference between day and night (Current temperature regulation: struggling)

3. Have a "friendly" conversation with at least three Sunagakure shinobi (0/3)

4. Don't die of heatstroke (in progress)]

[Quest reward: Unlock the "Desert Survivor" title (slightly boosts all attributes in desert environments)]

[Failure penalty: Triple debuff—heatstroke, diarrhea, and social anxiety—lasting until the event ends]

Qingyu stared at the quest, close to tears.

System, why are you acting like a coward?!

Was that last challenge, "Don't die of heatstroke," seriously meant to be a challenge?!

Just then, someone knocked at the door. It was Temari.

"Meet in the Chunin Meeting Hall at three this afternoon," she said in a businesslike tone. "Lord Kazekage wants to see you."

The Kazekage?! He was finally showing himself?

Qingyu and Sasuke exchanged glances, each seeing the wariness in the other's eyes.

"Understood," Sasuke replied with a nod.

After Temari left, Qingyu immediately began preparing.

He checked his ninja tool pouch, made sure he had his Communication Talisman, and stuffed the bottle of special ointment Elder Setsuna had given him into his pocket. What if the Kazekage poisoned them? Better safe than sorry!

"There's no need to be so tense," Izuna said in his mind. "The Kazekage is the leader of an entire village. He wouldn't attack you in broad daylight."

"But who knows what he might do behind the scenes," Tobirama added. "It's wise to stay alert."

At three in the afternoon, everyone arrived at the meeting hall right on time.

The meeting hall was on the top floor of the castle, with a wide view overlooking all of Sunagakure City.

Qingyu had no interest in the scenery. His attention was fixed on the person at the head of the conference table.

The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.

He wore a Kazekage robe and hat. His expression was stern, and he had a powerful presence.

But Qingyu couldn't help feeling that... something was off.

Whose mascot suit was that? Was he trying to get someone to worship him or something?

"Heh heh, welcome, everyone from Konoha," the Kazekage said, his voice low. "I'm Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage."

Kakashi bowed. "Lord Hokage sends his regards."

The usual exchange of pleasantries.

The Kazekage briefly outlined the joint event's schedule. It would begin the following day and last seven days, with tactical drills, live combat exercises, desert survival training, and more.

"To encourage interaction, we'll split you up and put you in mixed teams with Sunagakure shinobi," the Kazekage said. "The teams have already been decided. We'll announce them shortly."

Mixed teams? Qingyu tensed.

Did that mean they'd have to work alongside Sunagakure shinobi? What if their teammates were spies? What if they set them up?

In his previous life, he'd been pummeled into submission by "fair" 1v9 matches.

Qingyu: Teammates, are you even human?!

Teammates: The other side's too strong! They're unbeatable!

"Also," the Kazekage continued after a brief pause, "we'll have a points system during the event. Outstanding teams and individuals will receive additional rewards, including special ninjutsu scrolls from Sunagakure."

Naruto's eyes lit up. "Ninjutsu scrolls!"

Sasuke scoffed. "Can you even get your hands on one, dead last?"

Seeing them about to start arguing again, Kakashi quickly stepped in and restrained them both.

After the meeting ended, the teams were announced.

Qingyu had been assigned to Team Three. His teammates were Temari of Sunagakure and... a Sunagakure Genin he'd never met, whose name was Pakura.

Wait, Pakura?

The genius with the Kekkei Genkai Scorch Release from the original story?

Hadn't she died a long time ago? What was going on with this timeline?

Sasuke's teammates were Gaara and Kankuro.

Now that was a death squad! Good luck, Sasuke-kun!

Neji and Naruto had been teamed up with two other Sunagakure Genin.

"This team assignment..." Qingyu murmured to Kakashi. "Isn't it a little... deliberate?"

Kakashi nodded. "It's obvious Sunagakure is testing you while keeping an eye on you. Be careful."

Back in his room, Qingyu began looking into his two teammates.

Temari: Known to be skilled at Wind Release, strong-willed, and hostile toward Konoha.

Pakura: Unknown. But in the original story, she was an elite Jonin with the Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai. Why was she a Genin in this world? Wasn't her age off, too?

"Something's wrong," Tobirama analyzed in his mind. "This Pakura's chakra... It's very strong, far beyond a Genin's level."

"Is she in disguise?" Qingyu tensed.

"Quite possibly," Tobirama said. "Sunagakure may have sent a skilled shinobi disguised as a Genin to join the event. Their objective is unclear."

Qingyu felt an even worse headache coming on.

This wasn't a joint event. It was a game of Mafia! And they had to play it in the desert!

Dinner was served in the communal dining hall.

Sunagakure's food... was distinctive.

The staple was some kind of rock-hard flatbread, accompanied by pickles and dried meat. The soup was a strange-tasting wild vegetable broth, clear enough to see right through.

Sunagakure: This is how we eat in the great Sunagakure. Dig in!

Naruto took a bite of the flatbread, his face twisting. "I'm starving! Th-this tastes worse than Military Ration Pills!"

Neji checked the food with his Byakugan. "It's not poisonous, but it has little nutritional value."

Sasuke ate in silence, his expression unchanged.

Qingyu wondered if the Uchiha had some kind of special training for their taste buds. How could Sasuke eat food like this without batting an eye?!

Qingyu forced himself to eat a few bites. It felt like chewing sand.

He decided he'd live on Military Ration Pills from now on.

After dinner, they had free time.

Qingyu wandered around the castle, trying to complete the system's "friendly conversation" quest.

His first target was a Sunagakure Chunin standing guard in the hallway.

"Hello, I'm Uchiha Qingyu from Konoha," Qingyu said politely.

The other shinobi glanced at him, nodded, and said nothing.

Conversation failed.

His second target was the woman in charge of the dining hall.

"The soup today... is quite distinctive."

The woman rolled her eyes. "Drink it if you want. Don't if you don't."

Conversation failed ×2.

His third target was a Sunagakure Genin practicing Shuriken in the training ground.

Qingyu walked over. "Hey, I practice Shuriken, too. Want to talk about it?"

The other shinobi stopped and looked him over. "Uchiha?"

"Yeah."

"I've heard the Uchiha are great at Shurikenjutsu." The other shinobi perked up. "Want to compare skills?"

Qingyu's eyes lit up. "Sure!"

They stood on opposite sides and threw their Shuriken at the same time.

Qingyu used Twin Swallow Rotation. The two Shuriken struck each other in midair, changed direction, and both hit the bull's-eye.

The other shinobi's eyes widened. "Whoa! That move's awesome! How'd you do that?"

"It's all in the angle of your wrist and chakra control," Qingyu explained. "Want to try?"

"Yeah, yeah!"

[Ping!]

[Quest progress updated: Have a friendly conversation with Sunagakure shinobi (1/3)]

Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief. He'd finally completed one!

He taught the other shinobi a few basic techniques, and the other shinobi shared some Sunagakure-style throwing methods.

They couldn't match Uchiha Style, but they were very practical in the desert.

"My name's Satetsu," the other shinobi introduced himself. "We'll be in the same training ground tomorrow. Looking forward to working with you!"

Qingyu smiled and nodded.

So not everyone in Sunagakure was an enemy after all.

On his way back to his room, Qingyu suddenly sensed someone watching him.

He whipped around. A figure vanished at the end of the hallway—was it Pakura?