Looking at the plate on the ground, Pakura could only turn her head away.
To reduce the suspicion of her companions, she refused to eat such high-quality food.
"Here, move quickly. This is someone Master Shinki values."
Soon, the duty ninja brought a group of people to the cell, opened the door, and began carrying things inside under Pakura's stunned gaze. They looked like materials.
Why were they moving materials into the cell?
Pakura was puzzled.
What were these Konoha ninjas planning to do?
"Please make way," the duty ninja said coldly, glaring at Pakura.
Hitting a snag, Pakura suppressed her anger and moved aside.
In the next cell, not far away, the Sand Village prisoners crowded together, craning their necks to look in her direction.
After driving Pakura to the other side, several Konoha ninjas began their work.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, they constructed a separate compartment, placing a large wooden barrel inside.
Then, they added a wooden bed complete with bedding and other essentials.
After finishing the setup, the duty ninja turned to Pakura and said:
"Master Shinki instructed us to provide some basic accommodations for you. Although you're a prisoner of war, you're still a woman. This simple toilet was built for your use, with hot water provided every afternoon for bathing."
After delivering this explanation, the duty ninja raised his head, snorted, and swaggered away.
It was over...
Pakura looked around at the drastically changed cell, her heart sinking.
Although she was a ninja, her identity as a woman couldn't be ignored. It was already humiliating to handle personal needs in the cell, where others might accidentally see her.
Now, the problem was "solved," but Pakura felt no relief.
In fact, it was worse.
The prisoners from her village in the next cell were all staring at her with a mixture of curiosity and judgment.
What could she do?
She could refuse to eat the high-quality food, refuse the bed, or even the quilt and pillow, but could she refuse to use the toilet or wash herself?
It was nearly impossible.
If she refused, she'd have to handle her needs openly in front of the prisoners. How could she, as a young woman, bear such humiliation?
But if she complied, others would perceive it as betrayal—a sign that she was cooperating with Konoha.
It was a blatant, inescapable trap.
Even though Pakura saw through the ploy, she had no choice but to step into it.
---
### The Interrogation
"You, come out!"
After lunch, Pakura still refused to eat the high-quality meals.
The duty ninja was unmoved, saying only: "Eat if you want. If not, you'll stay hungry."
The time came for the interrogation, and the guards dragged a prisoner from the next cell to be questioned outside.
The interrogation methods were violent and cruel, eliciting agonized screams.
Listening to the wails of her comrades, Pakura closed her eyes. She refrained from joining the others in cursing Konoha. She knew that was precisely what Konoha wanted—to provoke them into anger and despair.
---
### Shinki's Strategy
"Sir, Pakura has refused to eat both meals today, and she hasn't touched the bed or bedding," the duty ninja reported that evening.
"As expected," Shinki replied, closing the book in his hand. "Continue as usual."
He waved the guard away and leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk on his face.
This was only the first day. Shinki was curious to see how long Pakura could hold out.
One day without eating wouldn't starve her, but avoiding the toilet for a whole day? That would become increasingly unbearable.
Before, the guards had stood far away, allowing prisoners some privacy. Pakura could use hay or branches to block herself from view.
Now, the adjacent cell was crowded with her village's prisoners, and the guards stood closer, watching.
Could Pakura really solve her needs under such circumstances?
She could refuse food and sleep, but she couldn't refuse to use the toilet.
Was this torture?
Shinki chuckled softly. Taking over Tsunade's duties wasn't as boring as he had feared. Pakura had made the right choice, at least as far as providing him some entertainment.
---
### Orochimaru's Visit
"Something worth celebrating?"
A familiar voice drifted through the window. Before Shinki could respond, Orochimaru pushed open the door and walked in, carrying a tray of freshly grilled meat.
"Well, well, isn't this a rare sight? You're out of your lab?" Shinki quipped, genuinely surprised.
Orochimaru was infamous for his obsessive work ethic, splitting time between the lab and official duties. To see him away from both, bearing food no less, was an anomaly.
Orochimaru smirked, placing the tray down. "The experiment is going well. The young ones are progressing nicely."
His good mood was evident—after all, it wasn't often that Orochimaru cooked for others. The smell of barbecued meat filled the room.
"Tsunade was wrong about one thing," Shinki remarked. "Your cooking is excellent."
Orochimaru rarely cooked, but when he did, the results were remarkable.
Shinki reached for a fork but hesitated, holding it mid-air.
"What kind of meat is this?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Anyone else might not have raised this question, but with Orochimaru, one could never be too cautious.
Orochimaru chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax. I know you enjoy venison. This is wild deer, hunted by the guards in the forest."
He smiled reassuringly. "No strange ingredients, I promise."
---
With that, the tension eased, and Shinki dug in, ready to enjoy the rare treat.
>>>>>
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[Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki]
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