"I want to know everything!"
At Pakura's command, the Kirigakure leader, now entrapped within the genjutsu world, spoke in a daze:
"Due to the Third Shinobi World War's failure, the clans in the village grew increasingly dissatisfied with the Fourth Mizukage's rule.
"Moreover, the sharpest blade in his arsenal—the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—was completely wiped out, leading to a growing chorus of opposition against his authority.
"The most extreme of these dissenters was the Kaguya clan.
"To prevent a civil war, the Fourth Mizukage personally led an operation to annihilate the Kaguya clan.
"He thought this would serve as a warning to others, but instead, it caused the clans to band together in solidarity.
"Under the influence of the clans, even ordinary villagers started to criticize the Mizukage. Rumors of his incompetence and unsuitability for leadership began to spread throughout the village…"
The Kirigakure leader, clearly a loyal confidant of Yagura Karatachi, seemed to know many secrets.
Ignoring the murderous glare in Pakura's eyes, he continued word by word, "To solidify his power, the Fourth Mizukage secretly struck a deal with the Fourth Kazekage."
"Rasa provided intelligence on Sunagakure to help Yagura achieve feats that could bolster his reputation.
"In exchange, Yagura offered financial support and assisted Rasa in eliminating dissent within Sunagakure."
"Dissent…" Pakura gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with pain.
She now understood everything.
That despicable Rasa!
She had once competed with him for the position of Kazekage and had even suspected him of espionage due to Mirai's abilities.
But after Rasa became Kazekage, she had no further ambitions.
Pakura believed she had contributed much to the village. Did Rasa think she threatened his rule so much that she needed to be eliminated?
Killing those who posed a threat to him, silencing dissent, and gaining funds to buy loyalty…
Rasa truly had it all planned out.
But those dissenters… they were her comrades, her people!
Then she thought of how Rasa sealed Shukaku, sacrificing his wife's health to bear three children, ultimately leading to her death in childbirth. He even sealed Shukaku into his premature son…
Pakura felt that Rasa doing something this vile wasn't out of character.
"I've always told you," Mirai said calmly, "the decaying system of the shinobi world breeds nothing but darkness.
"To truly bring peace, the entire shinobi world must be unified. Absolute strength must suppress everything, and all resources must be centrally allocated.
"Only then can the people of the shinobi world live relatively prosperous lives."
Pakura stared at Mirai, momentarily stunned.
She never imagined that Uchiha Mirai harbored such grand ambitions.
Centralizing all resources…
What kind of vision and boldness did it take to even entertain such an idea?
"Well?"
"Have you reconsidered becoming my subordinate?"
After a moment of hesitation, Pakura slowly nodded. "I'll join you."
She had been convinced. Compared to maintaining the status quo, Mirai's vision for the future was far more appealing.
It not only aligned with her goal of becoming Kazekage but also promised a better life for the people of Sunagakure.
She had no reason to refuse.
Satisfied with her answer, Mirai nodded.
"Good. You've made a wise choice."
Pakura asked, "What's the plan?"
Mirai's voice remained light. "I'll find an opportunity to kill Rasa. Once he's gone, you'll naturally ascend as Kazekage.
"If there's anyone else who needs to be dealt with…"
Mirai handed Pakura a Flying Thunder God kunai made of gold sand.
"Use this, and I'll take care of it."
The plan was simple.
With Mirai's overwhelming strength, his ambitions were well within reach.
Pakura nodded without saying much.
In this plan, all she had to do was wait.
After all, whether it was being rescued by Mirai from Kirigakure's shinobi today or his promise to eliminate Rasa for her tomorrow…
Pakura realized that as long as she aligned herself with Mirai, everything seemed to fall into place effortlessly.
Mirai's gaze lingered on Pakura's slender back as he said softly, "I've done so much for you. Shouldn't you show a little gratitude?"
Pakura's expression immediately turned wary. "What are you trying to do?"
Mirai nodded knowingly.
Pakura, initially puzzled, quickly caught on. Her face flushed with anger.
"You scoundrel!"
Mirai chuckled and shook his head. "How is that scoundrel-like? I'd call it charm."
When Pakura opened her mouth to retort, Mirai's face darkened, his tone becoming slightly menacing.
"Pakura, you wouldn't want the people of Sunagakure to continue living in misery after I unify the shinobi world, would you?"
"…."
On an uninhabited island, emotions were expressed in their most primal form.
Standing, Mirai smiled faintly at Pakura.
"I told you, you're quite talented."
Pakura dry-heaved, her eyes filled with resentment. "Is this how you treat women?"
Mirai replied casually, "Women love a bad boy."
"You'll grow to enjoy it eventually."
Pakura, her face flushed, said nothing more. She simply tidied her disheveled hair in silence.
"Return to the village on your own. Remember… act like nothing ever happened."
With that, Mirai vanished, reappearing moments later in Orochimaru's lab.
"Mirai-kun, what brings you here?" Orochimaru asked curiously, pausing his work.
"We're going to Sunagakure," Mirai said calmly.
"To do what?"
"You've been struggling to get close to Hiruzen Sarutobi during the Chūnin Exams, haven't you?"
"We'll kill Rasa, and you'll impersonate him to infiltrate Konoha."
Hearing Mirai's plan, Orochimaru's eyes lit up.
Killing the Kazekage and taking his place?
It sounded insane. Thrilling, even.
Orochimaru eagerly said, "Let's go, then."
Mirai nodded. "Let's."
...
In the vast desert, a hundred kilometers from Sunagakure, Rasa meticulously sifted through the sands with his Magnet Release, searching for gold dust.
The Third Great Ninja War had left Sunagakure's economy in shambles.
If not for his Magnet Release ability to manipulate gold dust, internal strife would've erupted long ago.
Rasa's eyes glinted coldly. If not for Mirai stealing years' worth of his collected gold dust, would he have been reduced to this?!
That bastard! If I see him again—!
Lost in his thoughts, Rasa didn't notice the faint chakra signature approaching until a lazy, mocking voice broke his concentration.
"Rasa, you seem to be in high spirits."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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