Scorch Release Pakura

When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue.

—Sixteen-Character Guerrilla Warfare Mantra.

After leaving Rock Town Village, Yotsuki Sora drew upon the guerrilla warfare experience of our army, fully utilizing the Land of Earth's rugged, mountainous, and complex terrain to launch his own guerrilla campaign.

Relying on a physique akin to a monster and chakra reserves comparable to a tailed beast, Yotsuki Sora moved with the fluidity of a dragon, even while carrying Samui and a half-dead Kitsuchi.

Of course.

If he lacked supplies, he would be in a difficult spot.

Even if he could go ten days without food or drink, Samui and Kitsuchi certainly could not.

However, the supply replenishment from Rock Town Village completely removed any such concerns for Sora.

He could even hold Samui in his arms while using Kitsuchi as a cushion.

Fried eggs with sushi for breakfast, grilled fish with rice balls for lunch, and sake with barbecue for dinner.

The way he carried on, he didn't look like someone being hunted and surrounded; he looked like he was sightseeing and picnicking in the Land of Earth!

"Calculating the time, it should be about right."

Standing on the trunk of a giant tree, Sora looked into the distance. "Two days is enough for the Third Raikage to rendezvous with the main force. I've had enough of playing this game of hide-and-seek."

"What do you intend to do?"

"Naturally, I'm withdrawing from the battlefield," Sora said as if it were obvious. "I have the Five-Tails and the son of the Tsuchikage with me. As long as I bring these two trophies out, no matter how this war turns out, we will have sufficient bargaining chips."

"Then what about the Third Raikage..."

Samui paused, suddenly realizing her question was pointless.

The only reason the Third Raikage was able to rendezvous with the main force was that Sora had helped them draw away the vast majority of the enemy's attention.

If Sora were to run over to find the Third Raikage now, wouldn't he be blatantly leading all these people back to them, only increasing the pressure?

But on second thought, given Sora's combat power, if he could join up with the Third Raikage, rescuing the main force would likely be much easier.

Yet, thinking of the relationship between Sora and the village...

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Sora's gaze fell toward the southeast.

Accompanied by a tremor in the earth, a ball of scorching fire suddenly exploded, sending up billowing clouds of smoke.

Amidst the dust, a beautiful figure rolled out in a somewhat disheveled state.

Looking at the several figures breaking through the smoke to attack, Pakura's heart sank to the bottom.

She did not understand.

Clearly having come to execute a support mission to help the Hidden Stone deal with the Hidden Cloud, she was now being ambushed by her own "allies."

If not for her quick reflexes, that Earth Spear would have already pierced her heart!

"Scorch Release..."

"Earth Release: Earth-Shattering Palm!"

Pakura condensed a fireball, but the ground beneath her feet cracked open, forcing her to leap into the air.

Looking at the figures before her, Pakura felt a sense of despair.

There were thirteen Hidden Stone ninjas pursuing her, four of whom were Jonin, and their leader was none other than the famous Hidden Stone genius, East Dead Man!

The ninja world's classification of powerhouses was somewhat vague, having only a rough indicator.

That was, being able to defeat a Jonin squad capable of executing S-rank missions single-handedly qualified one for the ranks of the ninja world's powerhouses!

Once a ninja of this level defected, they were generally at the level of an S-rank missing-nin.

Pakura of the Scorch Release, once renowned throughout the ninja world, was naturally among the ranks of the powerful. Although East Dead Man could barely claim a spot among them himself, he had brought along a Jonin squad and two Chunin squads to ensure he could finish her off.

If it were one-on-one, Pakura would boast that she didn't fear her opponent and would even have the confidence to defeat him.

But she had been ambushed, was severely injured, and the number of pursuers was so great.

This was already a dead end.

Pakura was filled with unwillingness.

"Why? We are allies, aren't we! We have a common enemy!"

"Don't joke around. We do have a common enemy, that's true, but as for being allies..."

East Dead Man crossed his arms and sneered, "After you die, the Wind and Earth countries should become excellent allies."

Pakura's pretty face stiffened.

I... I have been betrayed by my village!

Pakura's eyes lost their focus, her fighting spirit dissipated, and her convictions collapsed.

Over the years, she had shed blood and sacrificed everything for the village, executing missions and training day and night. Everything she did was to ensure that the barren, desolate village, filled with nothing but yellow sand, could become a better place.

Yet in the end, all she received in return was the village's betrayal.

Is it because I threatened your position, Fourth Kazekage...

Pakura was no fool.

Between the scattered words and the execution of this current mission, she already understood everything.

Before Rasa took power, she had also been a strong contender for the position of Fourth Kazekage.

But during the Wind-Lightning War, Rasa's performance had been far too outstanding.

With his signature Magnet Release Gold Dust Map Cannon, he had single-handedly crushed the Hidden Cloud forces and ascended directly to the position of Fourth Kazekage!

After that, in order to consolidate his status, Rasa had employed one tactic after another, even launching a war against Konoha.

But she never expected that Rasa would actually move against her!

Admittedly, the two had once been rivals.

It was true that she possessed the potential to threaten Rasa's position.

Yet, as they were currently in wartime, she was, after all, one of Hidden Sand's high-level combat assets.

Could it be that in the face of power, old friendships and the safety of the village had all become worthless?

Pakura's heart was filled with disappointment.

Is this my life?

How ridiculous.

Facing the incoming Hidden Stone ninja, she even gave up on resisting, standing frozen in place.

"Pray that in your next life, you aren't born in Hidden Sand, hahahaha!"

But the death she expected did not arrive with East Dead Man's wild laughter.

Pakura opened her eyes in confusion to find a broad, imposing figure standing before her.

His strong, muscular physique looked like a work of art carved by the heavens themselves, and the overwhelming masculine charisma radiating from him was simply impossible to resist.

Most striking of all were the pair of pointed horns protruding from his black hair; paired with his wild expression, he looked just like a beast!

Wait, horns?

"Yotsuki Sora?!"

There was no gratitude for surviving in Pakura's eyes; instead, they held a look of utter disbelief.

"Why would you save me?"

Her Hidden Sand forehead protector was still on her brow. Knowing full well that she was from Hidden Sand, why would Yotsuki Sora actually step in to save her?

Samui, who followed closely behind, stiffened the moment she saw Pakura. "Lord Sora! She is Pakura of the Scorch Release from Hidden Sand!"

"Pakura of the Scorch Release?"

Sora's gaze was intensely aggressive, as if he were looking at some succulent prey, and he scrutinized Pakura without a hint of restraint.

"Very good. Excellent."

"It would be a terrible waste for a woman like you to just die like this."

"?" X2

Pakura and Samui both wore looks of confusion and bewilderment; the former clearly did not understand the meaning behind Sora's words, while the latter was in complete disbelief.

"Lord Sora, she is Pakura of the Scorch Release, a general-level ninja of Hidden Sand."

"During the Wind-Lightning War, she killed countless Hidden Cloud ninja. She is on our Hidden Cloud Gold Letter Wanted List!"

"...None of my business."