Pakura leaned against the fence helplessly, her expression distant and dazed.
She couldn't fathom the point of her persistence these days.
Why did her companions suspect she had betrayed the village?
Was it a betrayal not to let herself starve to death or to avoid the indignity of relieving herself in public?
The reasoning seemed absurd.
Yet, when absurdity became reality and such ridiculous accusations fell upon her, who could still find it amusing?
After sitting there in a blank daze for a while, Pakura raised her head.
"What treatment would I receive if I defected to Konoha?"
"No, no, no, you're mistaken. Not Konoha," Shinki corrected her with a wag of his finger. "You would pledge loyalty to me. Only by being loyal to me would you receive the treatment you deserve. If you remain loyal to your village, you'll forever carry the label of a traitor."
Shinki's tone was calm but decisive, emphasizing the difference between defecting for personal allegiance versus staying tied to one's village.
"Although every village absorbs defected ninjas on the surface, the truth is most of them meet tragic ends. Betrayal once makes it easier to betray again."
"You win."
Pakura chuckled bitterly. Her smile carried helplessness and grievance.
She wasn't a traitor—she never had been. But no one believed her.
And now, the very person who caused her plight was the one she had to pledge loyalty to.
"Good. Remember your words," Shinki said, his gaze sharp. "I can accept your loyalty, but betrayal is not an option. Never forget your place."
With that, Shinki gestured to a nearby duty ninja.
"Lord Shinki," the ninja acknowledged, stepping forward.
"Take her to wash up, change her clothes, and give her a meal. Remove the seal on her body, then send her to the medical department."
"Remove the seal directly?"
The duty ninja blinked in disbelief. Even when defectors were accepted, they usually underwent extensive evaluation before being trusted. Removing her seal now seemed rash.
"Do as I say," Shinki ordered, patting the ninja on the shoulder before walking away.
It was a gamble. If Pakura acted against him after the seal's removal, the consequences would be her death. A small gamble—one he was confident he'd win.
"Yes, sir."
The duty ninja could only obey, despite his unease.
Pakura was soon escorted to a private room where she washed, donned clean clothes, and devoured her meal hungrily.
Then came the pivotal moment.
As the sealing team approached to remove her restraints, Pakura's emotions churned.
Wouldn't he fear she might attack and escape?
But even as the idea crossed her mind, she realized the futility of the thought. The camp was heavily guarded. Any attempt would end with her either dead or recaptured.
And even if she escaped, what then? Her own village would still see her as a traitor. Konoha would never trust her either.
Pakura clenched her fists.
The duty ninja escorting her remained on edge, tense and watchful. When the seal was removed, his heart nearly stopped as Pakura surveyed the camp with a calculating gaze.
Was she planning something?
Yet, in the end, nothing happened. Pakura chose to stay her hand, and the escort finally relaxed.
Brought before Shinki once more, Pakura looked different—cleaner and slightly refreshed, but her expression was no less complicated.
"You had a chance to act just now," Shinki observed, his curiosity evident. "You could have fought and perhaps escaped. Why didn't you?"
"The camp is heavily fortified," Pakura replied with a self-deprecating smile. "Even if I tried, the outcome would've been death or recapture. And if I did escape, what then? I'd still be seen as a traitor by both my companions and the villagers."
"That's a shame. Your last chance is now gone," Shinki said with a snap of his fingers, feigning regret.
He continued, "To be honest, I lied to you. Your companions haven't been informed of anything. To them, you're merely a prisoner, not a traitor."
Pakura's breath hitched.
"What did you just say?"
"If you had chosen to act, your chances of escape would've been higher than you think. But now, that opportunity is gone."
Pakura's fists clenched tightly, her knuckles turning white.
This man was infuriating.
She wanted to strike him, even if she knew she wouldn't win. Her anger surged to the point that she stubbornly turned her head away.
However, before she could react further, an invisible force gripped her body, lifting her into the air.
Pakura's eyes widened as she was pulled toward Shinki, her limbs immobilized by an unseen power.
"Since you didn't choose to act, you'll stay by my side," Shinki declared, his voice low and commanding. "Don't entertain any rebellious ideas. The consequences will be severe."
With a flick of his wrist, he released her. Pakura stumbled as her feet touched the ground.
"Now, go to the next room and rest. Get your mental and physical state back in order. I have no use for a sickly follower."
Still stunned by the strange force, Pakura shuffled toward the designated room, her head buzzing with confusion.
What had just happened?
How had Shinki controlled her so effortlessly?
Lying down on the bed, exhausted and overwhelmed, Pakura fell into a deep sleep.
Not long after, Orochimaru arrived, carrying fresh ingredients.
In the entire camp, only Shinki and Orochimaru dared to openly cook for themselves. While Orochimaru rarely cooked due to his busy schedule, Shinki often did, much to the camp's amusement.
The ninjas had grown used to it, even viewing it as normal.
After all, as the head of the medical department and a village hero, why shouldn't Shinki indulge himself occasionally?
>>>>>
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[Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki]