In a daze, Pakura opened her eyes.
Everything in sight was a vast expanse of white. She could not see anything clearly.
"Is this hell?"
Pakura's gaze was unfocused as she stared blankly at the whiteness before her.
Memories of the past flashed through her mind like slides.
She thought of many things—every effort she had made for Sunagakure, her adorable disciple, and especially the homeland where she had been born and raised.
It had all once been wonderful.
But then, all of a sudden,
her life had collapsed.
All her past efforts seemed to have been denied.
She could accept dying at an enemy's hands, but she could not accept being abandoned by her village.
Her chest ached as if it were being carved apart by knives!
Didn't they say that once a person died, there would be no more pain?
"You're awake?"
An unfamiliar voice suddenly came from beside her.
Pakura froze.
At that moment, the silhouette of a young man appeared in her once-hazy vision.
The young man was not very old. He wore an ordinary green ninja outfit, with a Konoha Ninja Forehead Protector tied around his arm.
He was actually a Konoha ninja!
Pakura could not help feeling confused.
Hadn't she died? Why was this young man appearing before her?
"Mm, perhaps the toxins haven't been fully removed. Your mind should still be muddled."
Ye Fan suddenly bent down, grabbed Pakura's wrist, and checked her pulse.
Feeling the sensation in her wrist, Pakura's mind gradually cleared. Somewhat weakly, she asked,
"I'm not dead?"
"No!" Ye Fan answered crisply. "I saved you!"
Pakura did not offer words of gratitude. Her gaze became hollow again.
As if her heart had died, she felt utterly lost about continuing to live.
"Open your mouth!"
Ye Fan's voice suddenly rang