Xuandou came to the cell where Pakura was being held.
A Five Elements Seal formation had been laid out here, completely blocking the flow of chakra.
In the dim light, Pakura looked far more haggard than she had a few days earlier, her once spirited, striking face now showing signs of exhaustion.
Although someone brought her meals on time every day, this was still worlds apart from her former life as a jonin in Sunagakure.
When she saw Xuandou enter, Pakura raised her head, lingering defiance still in her eyes.
But the predicament she faced forced her to lower her once-proud head.
"Have you thought it through? Ready to be my secretary?"
Xuandou stood outside the cell door, his tone flat.
Pakura bit her lip and only nodded after a long silence.
Xuandou smiled.
"In that case, open your mind first, and don't resist. I need to plant a genjutsu in you with my Sharingan, so you don't turn around and stab me once you're out."
Pakura's face paled at his words.
She knew it. Xuandou wasn't that kindhearted!
But with her life in someone else's hands, did she have any choice?
In the end, she could only open her mind and give up all resistance.
Xuandou approached, three tomoe slowly spinning in each eye.
"Yin Release: Heart's Divergent Gate."
A cold, viscous stream of chakra invaded Pakura's pupils through their locked gazes, spreading into the depths of her consciousness.
If she wished, she could still muster her remaining mental strength and try to resist at that moment.
"Be good. Don't move."
Xuandou's low voice sounded right beside her ear.
Pakura clenched her fists, but ultimately did not resist.
Xuandou was right. As she was now, she was too weak-so weak that she had no right even to choose her own fate.
So she had to rely on Xuandou now to grow stronger.
A dazed feeling washed over her like a tide. When her awareness returned, Xuandou had already stepped back, his Sharingan returning to normal.
Click.
The cell door opened.
"Come out."
Pakura froze for a moment, then slowly stood with a hand against the wall, a little unsteady on her feet.
He was just... letting her out?
She found it somewhat unbelievable.
As she slowly walked out of the cell, she still felt a sudden sense of unfamiliarity.
"From today onward, you're my personal secretary."
Xuandou turned and walked outside, his voice drifting back.
"First, tell me about your abilities."
Pakura followed him silently and said in a low voice:
"I've mastered Scorch Release. I can create high-temperature fireballs that instantly evaporate the moisture inside a target's body."
She extended a hand, and an orange-red fireball appeared in her palm, rotating quietly as the surrounding air warped slightly.
Xuandou nodded.
Pakura more than met his standards in both strength and looks. She had the ability to help him handle external problems and the looks to help him handle his physical problems, making her a qualified female secretary.
After all, as the old saying went: when there was work, let the secretary do it; when there wasn't...
The only regret was that genjutsu's control was ultimately limited. It could only ensure he had a way to keep her in check if she turned against him, not make her obey absolutely.
Moreover, the genjutsu's effects would weaken over time, so he had to reinforce it at regular intervals.
He would have to find a way to solve these problems later.
"Come home with me first. I'll spend the next few days training you."
Hearing the word "training," Pakura immediately felt embarrassed and angry.
But she was under his control now, so she could only lower her head.
Xuandou brought Pakura to his home.
"You'll live here from now on, ready whenever I call."
"What will my daily duties be?"
"First, you'll follow me every day as my bodyguard. I'll also give you some minor errands to handle."
Pakura nodded at his words.
None of those things would be particularly difficult for a jonin like her.
Her work seemed easier than she had imagined.
But Xuandou's next words left her completely stunned.
"Second..."
Xuandou glanced at her.
"As my personal secretary, you'll also have to satisfy my physical needs."
Pakura's head snapped up.
"...What?"
"Don't understand?"
Xuandou turned and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"I said a 'personal' secretary."
Pakura stiffened all over, then forcefully pushed his hand away.
"Absolutely not!"
"Looks like my female secretary still needs training. Otherwise, how could you qualify?"
"What does this have to do with making me stronger?!"
Pakura stepped back twice, fury surging in her eyes.
"You just want my body!"
"Why should I trust a Sunagakure ninja?"
Xuandou cut her off, his gaze growing colder.
"Only when you give yourself to me completely will I believe you're worth cultivating."
Chakra stirred faintly around Pakura, as though she might strike at any moment.
"Are you sure you want to fight me?"
Tomoe appeared in Xuandou's eyes once more.
Pakura immediately felt the cold restraint inside her stirring.
She had no doubt that the moment she made any suspicious move, that power would erupt before she could act.
After struggling for several seconds, she finally dispersed her chakra.
Xuandou approached again, his fingers lightly stroking the side of her waist.
"Behave. Otherwise... you might be abandoned again."
As he spoke, Xuandou's hand grew restless again and began roaming over her body.
Pakura's body went rigid. She wanted to resist again, but images of Chiyo and Rasa abandoning her flashed through her mind.
That feeling of being pushed forward as a bargaining chip...
She never wanted to experience it a second time.
And so her clenched jaw gradually relaxed, and she did not pull away again.
Xuandou's lips curved in satisfaction.
"Follow me obediently, and you'll get what you want."
Then Xuandou lay down on the bed and ordered her:
"Come over and take the initiative in serving me. Let me see how good you are."
Pakura stood where she was, struggling fiercely inside.
Only after a long time did she slowly raise her hands and undo her buttons.
Her clothes slipped off, one piece after another.
She walked up to Xuandou, humiliation in her eyes, and glared fiercely at him as she said:
"If you can't do what you said... I'll take you down with me, even if I die!"
Xuandou paid it no mind.
"Don't worry. Whatever I promise you, I'll make it happen!"
"You know what to do next."
A long time later.
A system notification sounded in Xuandou's mind:
[Ding! Congratulations, host, on achieving the objective!] [Assessing the mission target's aptitude...] [Assessment complete. Overall rating: S-rank!]
With a slight mental impulse, he acted.
He opened the [Many Children, Many Blessings] interface.
[Available to claim: S-Rank Clan Treasure Chest ×1]
Without hesitation, Xuandou immediately chose to claim it.
[Ding! S-Rank Clan Treasure Chest claimed successfully. Open it?]
"Open."
[Treasure chest opened. Distributing rewards.] [Reward one: S-Rank Ninjutsu Creation Card Description: Use this card to specify a direction for ninjutsu creation. The system will generate the most suitable S-rank ninjutsu based on the host's current abilities, bloodline characteristics, and chakra natures.] [Reward two: Kekkei Genkai Upgrade Card Description: Use this card to upgrade your own kekkei genkai to a higher form!]
Immediately afterward, two cards appeared out of thin air in Xuandou's hand.
Good stuff!
Looking at the two cards in his hand, Xuandou was delighted.
With the S-Rank Ninjutsu Creation Card, he could add another S-rank ninjutsu to his repertoire.
With the Kekkei Genkai Upgrade Card, he could even upgrade his Three-Tomoe Sharingan!
And the upgraded Sharingan would be the Mangekyō Sharingan!
Not only would his abilities improve across the board, but he would also gain two new ocular techniques!
This meant he would gain genuine Kage-level strength!
Without hesitation, he used the S-Rank Ninjutsu Creation Card first.
[Ding! S-Rank Ninjutsu Creation Card used successfully!] [Please select a direction for technique creation:] [One: Ninjutsu] [Two: Sealing jutsu] [Three: Taijutsu]
The available directions differed from last time...
After a little thought, he selected the second option.
[Generating sealing jutsu...] [Detected that the host possesses yin, lightning, and fire chakra natures. Integrating characteristics...] [Ding! Generation complete!] [Technique name: Yin Seal Slave Mark] [Type: S-rank sealing jutsu] [Effect: Uses yin release chakra to link to the target's soul and plant an enslavement mark. Through the mark, the caster can sense the target's condition and emotions and, when necessary, inflict punishment, briefly control their actions, or completely restrain their movements.]