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...
"This is a long story, so I'll keep it short."
"Miss Pakura is, well, a ninja from the Land of Wind. She ended up wandering to Konoha after experiencing political persecution back home."
"Ai, you know me. I'm a kind soul; I can't stand seeing people abuse their power. Seeing her so pitiful, like a stray cat, I brought her back to Konoha, where she's been granted political asylum…"
"Currently, only you and I know about this, so don't tell anyone, okay~?"
"…Anyway, I'm in a tough spot. That's how it all happened." Gojo Kaigetsu spread his hands. "Ai, if it were you, you'd understand, right?"
Understand?
Understand what? That because Pakura is attractive, he decided to bring her home like a pet?
This household was unbearable!
Samui's lips twitched, unsure how to even begin to address Gojo Kaigetsu's absurdity.
'Given Gojo Kaigetsu's political standing in Konoha, he couldn't possibly be unaware of Pakura's true identity, yet he chose to conceal this information from me.'
'Another thing… How could Pakura, the Hero of Suna, be subjected to political persecution? Even if that were the case, she would become a missing-nin, not a… plaything for someone like Gojo Kaigetsu… He must be holding something over her.'
'There's definitely something more to this than meets the eye.'
Samui pondered.
This was crucial intel. If she could uncover the truth and report back to her village, it could have an unexpected impact on their decision-making.
"Great! Ai, it's for the best that you accept this. Otherwise, I was thinking of having Pakura stay with Mei."
Gojo Kaigetsu licked his lips like a predator. "Now then, I'll leave the cooking to you, Ai. Miss Pakura and I have some ninja business to discuss."
"See you in an hour… no, two hours."
Bam!
With that, Gojo Kaigetsu led the still bewildered Pakura towards his room.
Samui was left alone in the living room, utterly speechless.
"What a jerk!" Only at times like these could Samui express even a fraction of her discontent.
Of course, it was only verbal discontent.
After venting, she still had to obediently head to the kitchen and prepare dinner.
Pleasing a man's stomach was also part of the required curriculum for Kumogakure's female ANBU, and Samui was a skilled cook.
However, as she cooked, the meal began to take on a bitter taste.
While in the kitchen, she could vaguely hear Gojo Kaigetsu's voice:
"Oh my, you're the most naturally talented Suna ninja I've ever met."
"Can you control Scorch Style? No? I can teach you! First like this, then like that, and finally like this…"
"Idiot, you have to do it like this, then like that. Focus on self-control! Do you understand self-control?"
"That's it! Scorch Style! Remember what you learned at the Academy about chakra nature transformation!"
"You're an absolute genius when it comes to learning absorption abilities, Pakura. Interested in teaching at the Konoha Academy? Wait a moment."
"Can you show me a back pose?"
"You know, the standard bodybuilding pose. Although your muscles aren't that exaggerated, your physique is quite… sculpted."
And then there was Pakura's hesitant, almost scorching, voice:
"Don't… Don't be ridiculous!"
"A shinobi can be killed, but not humiliated! I'm going to read."
"Ninjutsu is a tool for killing! The Way should not be taught lightly!"
"Konoha's body-tempering secrets? Really?"
"My hair too…"
Clang-
Samui's hand, busy piping cream puffs, lost its grip, and the cream container clattered onto the counter.
What were those two doing in there?
The scene and the lines were eerily familiar. She seemed to have heard Gojo Kaigetsu say similar things to Mei Terumi back at the Konoha Hospital.
Was this guy always this disingenuous with kunoichi? Did he even bother changing his lines?
He clearly didn't see her, Samui, as a person, completely disregarding the fact that a healthy and mature woman was outside, listening to those strange sounds, and reacting to them.
How selfish!
Why not just stay in there and take Pakura to Mei Terumi's place instead?!
"So much for a veteran ninja. She has no self-respect as a kunoichi, acting so… indecently with that Gojo Kaigetsu…"
"Aside from the fact that it might feel good, doesn't she care that there's someone else in the house?"
Samui scoffed inwardly. Pakura's image as a respected veteran had completely shattered.
Kumogakure and Sunagakure, due to their shared enemies of Iwagakure and Konoha, had maintained a semblance of friendship.
Moreover, according to intel from her village, the two were about to form a military alliance.
This situation was truly troublesome.
'Before I understand the full story… as a Kumogakure ninja, I should discipline this Pakura for damaging the Kumogakure-Sunagakure friendship.'
This daring thought crossed Samui's mind. Pakura had just called her "Mistress" after all…
'Since Gojo Kaigetsu wants to play this game…'
Samui narrowed her eyes, plotting how to leverage the top-secret intel of "Pakura's presence in Konoha."
Currently, she had three options: spread the news within Konoha, report back to her village, or inform Suna.
She stood at a crossroads of fate, each choice leading to a different path.
The best outcome would be to facilitate deeper cooperation between Kumogakure and Sunagakure, a union of strengths to suppress Konoha from all sides. That would mark the successful completion of her mission.
The worst-case scenario would be Gojo Kaigetsu discovering the leak, suspecting her involvement, and then… only a world where she became a cream puff toy would be realized.
Samui's expression flickered between light and shadow as she squeezed the cream container tightly.
Squeeze-
The faint sounds emanating from the room seemed to provide a soundtrack for Samui as she piped one cloud-like cream puff after another onto the serving tray.
Light, fluffy, and bursting with milky fragrance.
She, Samui, had to step up her game too!
…
…
"We're almost at Konoha, aren't we?"
"Yes, once we pass through this forest, we'll see Konoha's landmark buildings."
The official Suna delegation to Konoha was large, numbering twenty-five, including himself.
Four others, besides him, were elders from the liberal and reformist factions, responsible for negotiating the specific details of the trade agreement with Konoha's Gojo Kaigetsu.
The remaining twenty were ostensibly the most outstanding students selected from the Academy. However, some were graduates still within the eligible age range.
For these graduates who had returned to the Academy, the Sunagakure provided a stipend from the reduced military budget.
Essentially, they received extra allowance from the village to become "professional students," bringing honor to Suna during inter-village events.
A Suna ninja never backs down!
As a village with a harsh ninja system, even if they were slightly inferior to Konoha in terms of high-end combat power, Suna wanted to demonstrate to the shinobi world who the true leader in ninja education was, at least at the Academy level.
Whether it was Konoha's "summer camp" or the joint Chunin Exams, Suna could not afford to lose.
This was the one area where Suna still held its head high.
However, Maki ( Pakura student ) felt the village elders were being overly cautious.
This year's Suna Academy students might not be a "Golden Generation," but they were certainly a "Sand Gold Squad."
Talented and brimming with potential!
There was Temari, the Fourth Kazekage's daughter, known as the princess of Suna. She had been personally trained by the Kazekage at home. Originally, she wasn't scheduled to enroll for a few more years, but she had entered early specifically for this Konoha summer camp.
Despite her young age, Temari's talent was undeniable, making her a top contender among the student group.
There was also Maki, Pakura's apprentice.
A naturally gifted Suna ninja, Maki had graduated early from the Suna Academy two years prior and had been under Pakura's tutelage. Having her pose as an Academy student was still plausible considering her age.
However… Maki's current state…
Maki's condition was quite concerning. She wore a constant frown. It was evident that she had a genuine bond with her mentor, Pakura.
Pakura's disappearance had dealt her a heavy blow.
Indeed, Pakura had disappeared.
This was the official Suna narrative regarding Pakura's case. While the villagers were saddened, they accepted this reality.
After all, the disappearance of powerful ninja was a long-standing tradition in Suna.
Even someone as strong as the Third Kazekage could vanish without a trace. Suna had previously used the Kazekage's disappearance as a pretext for war against Konoha. Theoretically, they could do the same now…
On the day Pakura's disappearance was announced, the pro-war faction among the villagers did clamor for war, using the excuse of "We've lost a hero," or at the very least, demanding some form of compensation from other villages.
However, with the unified stance of the Kazekage Tower's leadership, these voices were quickly suppressed.
The times had changed subtly.
The shinobi world wasn't just about fighting and killing; there were also matters of diplomacy and human relations.
"Sigh…" Maki sighed, feeling some resentment towards the actions of the higher-ups.
They had just used someone's mentor as a political pawn and were now using her disciple as a tool to bring honor to the village.
It was a distasteful display.
Perhaps it was the most beneficial course of action for the village, but… it eroded public trust and wounded the pure and simple love that ordinary ninja held for their village.
However, orders were orders. The essence of a ninja was to be a tool, discarding personal feelings and living solely for the mission.
…
"We've arrived."
Finally, the Suna delegation emerged from the dense forest, having traversed mountains and rivers to reach the outskirts of Konohagakure.
This time, Baki felt the weight of his responsibility.
Even a high-ranking ninja like himself felt a tinge of fatigue from the journey from Suna to Konoha.
The village's decision was correct.
This trade route, this cooperation, had to be established! For the sake of a better life for the future generations of Suna, so they could enjoy the same conveniences as other villagers!
This trade agreement would be finalized in his hands.
Looking into the distance, he could already see the gates of Konoha. Baki's expression shifted slightly.
Unlike his previous covert visit, this was an official visit, and Konoha was demonstrating considerable sincerity.
While there weren't any tangible offerings, just look at who was waiting at the Konoha gates!
Gojo Kaigetsu himself stood at the entrance, welcoming them.
Beside him were many prominent figures of Konoha. Baki recognized the Uchiha clan head, the Nara clan head…
And there was a strange figure standing next to Gojo Kaigetsu, cloaked and masked.
This individual wasn't present during his last visit. Added security after Pakura's assassination attempt, perhaps?
Baki couldn't have imagined that their hero had already been tamed and collared by Gojo Kaigetsu, transformed into a loyal guard dog.
Along the way, he had sensed Konoha's surveillance ninjas trailing their delegation, likely relaying their progress. Gojo Kaigetsu had then organized this high-profile welcoming ceremony.
...
At the Konoha gates.
A bright smile adorned Gojo Kaigetsu's face. The long-awaited leeks had finally arrived. How could he not be in a good mood?
He noticed something amiss with Pakura, who stood beside him.
He whispered to the slightly trembling Pakura, "Miss Pakura, why are you so stiff? Didn't I help you relax before we left?"
"Loosen up; no one will recognize you. They have nothing to do with you anymore, do they? You're not wearing a Suna headband now."
"Your current identity is the mysterious ninja of the Advisor's Guard~"
"Why is Maki also…"
"Hmm? What did you say?"
"Nothing, it's nothing."
Pakura lowered her head, forcing herself to calm down.
She couldn't accept it. She had given everything for her village, yet they sent her only disciple to this dangerous place, Konoha.
Why bring her only connection, her bond, to her "burial ground"?
Didn't they realize how hurtful this was? Did they assume she was already a corpse, completely disregarding the feelings of the dead?
Pakura sighed silently.
This was her choice, and now it was too late to change.
She couldn't let Maki discover that her master had become a plaything for a Konoha ninja…
"Hmm? Are you concerned about that kunoichi?"
Gojo Kaigetsu had noticed the unusual tone in Pakura's voice. He scrutinized the Suna Academy students at the back of the group.
He spotted the kunoichi with the purple markings on her face.
Understanding dawned. So, Pakura's disciple had also come to Konoha.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on her!"
Pakura lowered her voice, her tone serious.
This was her bond, a bond even stronger than her loyalty to her village. If Gojo Kaigetsu were to harm Maki, she would truly burn herself out in Konoha, regardless of the consequences.
"Miss Pakura, please, don't think so poorly of me. Even if I had such intentions, Konoha law wouldn't allow it. I, Gojo Kaigetsu, would never break the law."
...
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