agagaf

After eating and drinking their fill, the army continued on its way. However, some took Takuya's words to heart.

That night, as they rested, they hunted their own game and tried their hand at roasting meat.

Unfortunately, without seasoning and with poor cooking skills, the resulting roast meat was practically inedible, making the dried rations seem more appetizing by comparison.

At the Fire Country border, Sunagakure had taken control of the outpost and set up camp. They made no attempt to push further, seemingly waiting for Konoha's reinforcements to arrive.

"Sensei, why don't we just push into the Fire Country now?"

Several thousand shinobi invading the Fire Country would definitely cause some serious trouble for them.

The Third Kazekage glanced at his student before replying, his tone indifferent.

"A few years ago, I thought just like you did. We inflicted heavy losses on the Fire Country and Konoha, but we also suffered greatly ourselves, and even managed to anger the Fire Daimyo's court."

Isn't the purpose of war to inflict as much damage as possible on the enemy?

If the Fire Daimyo's court got offended, then so be it! What did that have to do with Sunagakure?

Seeing that his student still didn't understand his reasoning, the Third Kazekage continued.

"After the war, the Fire Daimyo's court was initially unwilling to accept our proposal to purchase supplies. Eventually, it took our own Daimyo's intervention to get the deal through."

"Our Daimyo was furious, and combined with the situation with the River Daimyo, Sunagakure ended up walking on eggshells."

"So..."

Rasa was stunned. "Sensei, are you saying that if we defeat Konoha, we can occupy the fertile lands of the Fire Country? But if we can't, causing destruction in the Fire Country will only bring us trouble?"

"No, it's not just that."

"If we could, I wouldn't mind invading the Fire Country."

The Third Kazekage clenched his fists, biting his teeth in frustration. Invading the Fire Country—that was something any leader would want to do.

But the problem was that Sunagakure couldn't afford to. They had to compromise with the Wind Daimyo, or they wouldn't receive his support.

The Second Great Ninja War had chilled the Wind Daimyo's heart and shattered his pride.

The heavy war reparations, along with the Daimyo's lack of support, left Sunagakure struggling.

If they wanted to continue fighting, they needed the Daimyo's backing, and the Wind Daimyo's condition was simple.

"I will support you, but don't cause any more trouble. Otherwise, it will be my reputation on the line."

Sunagakure could fight Konoha however they liked. If their shinobi infiltrated the Fire Country to cut off Konoha's supply routes, he wouldn't care. But they couldn't repeat the blunders from a few years ago.

Rasa wasn't dumb—otherwise, he wouldn't become the Fourth Kazekage.

After the Third Kazekage's explanation, he understood the village's awkward position and their forced compromise with the Daimyo's court.

"But this compromise is hindering our operations."

"I know, but we have no choice. We must win this battle; failure is not an option."

The Third Kazekage waved his hand dismissively, changing the subject.

"Any word from Onoki?"

The Five Great Shinobi Villages all had their own conflicts and grudges, and Sunagakure and Iwagakure were no exception.

Iwagakure shinobi had often infiltrated the Wind Country, and Sunagakure shinobi had made their own incursions into the Land of Earth.

The relationship between the two villages wasn't as smooth as it appeared on the surface.

Despite that, with the war breaking out, the Third Kazekage still decided to try and bring Onoki on board.

He wanted to invite Onoki to join the fight.

Rasa shook his head.

"There's been no response from Iwagakure. Onoki seems to be waiting, and I doubt they'll join so easily."

"No, he will."

The Third Kazekage looked toward Iwagakure.

He and Onoki had been rivals for many years. He knew Onoki well enough and understood what Onoki was waiting for.

"A few years ago, Onoki wouldn't have made a move. But now, Konoha is far too weak."

Only three years had passed since the end of the Second Great Ninja War. Sunagakure hadn't recovered yet, and neither had Konoha.

Konoha's situation was a bit better than Sunagakure's, but even so, how much better could it really be?

Now, with them fighting Mist Village, and suffering a major defeat just days ago, Sunagakure had declared war. Konoha was scrambling on two fronts, exposing their vulnerabilities.

And that had to be irresistible to Iwagakure.

Not every village had the wealth and resources of the Cloud Village. Sunagakure was poor, and Iwagakure wasn't much better off.

One was a barren desert; the other, a rocky wasteland. Neither country had much fertile land.

If there was an opportunity to carve off a piece of the Fire Country, Onoki wouldn't hesitate.

"Should we keep reaching out to Iwagakure?" Rasa asked.

The Third Kazekage gave a faint smile.

"No need. Everything has its limits. If Onoki wants in, he'll join. If he doesn't, no amount of persuading will work."

"Besides, don't forget about Mist Village's invitation."

Why hadn't Mist Village attacked Konoha while they were in disarray?

It was because they wanted to draw other villages into the fight against Konoha.

Sunagakure's compromise with the Wind Daimyo didn't bother the Third Kazekage, because he believed Konoha was destined to lose!

If Onoki couldn't resist joining in, Konoha would undoubtedly fall.

During the Second Great Ninja War, Iwagakure had held back, only meddling briefly in the Rain Country before stepping aside to focus on Cloud Village.

But this time, Iwagakure would make a move.

The Third Kazekage's confidence stemmed from Onoki's age.

Onoki was old, likely nearing the time to step down and make way for the next generation.

And at his age, he would want to accumulate as much wealth as possible for the younger generation. Declaring war on Konoha and seizing the fertile lands of the Fire Country was the best way to do that.

Why is it that every word Sensei says makes sense, but when you put it all together, it just leaves me confused?

Is this what it means to have a leader's perspective?

Rasa pondered in silence.

Late at night, the Tsuchikage's office was still brightly lit. Onoki, already well into his years, was still pushing on.

"Father, you should rest."

Kitsuchi sighed. Onoki had been working overtime for days now for the sake of the village. It made him, as Onoki's son, feel a bit uneasy.

"Hmm."

Absentmindedly nodding, Onoki suddenly asked.

"What do you think of the invitations from Mist and Sunagakure?"

The invitation from Mist had arrived some time ago, and Onoki had ignored it.

But now, with Sunagakure also extending an invitation, Onoki was starting to take it seriously.

Compared to Mist Village, Sunagakure's declaration of war against Konoha had caught Onoki's full attention.

Support Naruto: I Traveled with a Max Level AccountFighting against Kirigakure might only weaken Konoha temporarily. But adding Sunagakure to the mix changes everything. Even if Konoha wins, it would be a pyrrhic victory. If Iwagakure suddenly attacks during this chaos, Konoha wouldn't be able to withstand it.

"They probably want to drag us into the conflict, diverting more of Konoha's focus and forces. Those two villages are up to no good, and I... ouch!"

Kitsuchi yelped, clutching his head and squatting down. Even squatting, he was almost the same height as Onoki, who was sitting in his chair.

"You idiot, you're driving me nuts! If you had an ounce of ambition, I'd have retired long ago!" Onoki scolded, clearly annoyed.

"Forget it. I've long known I couldn't count on you. I don't know when these old bones of mine will finally get some rest."

Onoki's persistence for decades wasn't just out of dedication—he simply had no choice. He hadn't found a suitable successor. Kitsuchi, his son, once held high hopes, but he turned out to be unreliable—his strength was decent, but his head wasn't sharp.

This left Onoki stuck, still searching for someone suitable.

"Hehe," Kitsuchi chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head.

He knew his limitations. Fighting? No problem—he could go all out. But becoming the Tsuchikage? That was beyond him. He'd rather spend more time at home with his adorable daughter than deal with the burden of leadership.

"What are you smiling about?!" Onoki rolled his eyes, feeling exasperated with his son.

Sighing, Onoki returned to the topic at hand.

"You're right; Kirigakure and Sunagakure are indeed scheming, but don't you think this is a great opportunity for us?"

Iwagakure's military strength ranked third among the Five Great Shinobi Nations, only behind Kumogakure and Konoha. But in other aspects, Iwagakure lagged behind.

"Should we respond to Sunagakure?" Kitsuchi asked.

"No need."

Snorting disdainfully, Onoki said, "They're not worth it. Let them fight, and when the time is right, we'll step in."

Even if they were to attack Konoha or the Land of Fire, Iwagakure would never ally with Sunagakure or Kirigakure. Onoki didn't think much of the Third Kazekage's limited resources, especially in a weakened Sunagakure just a few years after the Second Great Ninja War. As for Kirigakure, with their erratic Mizukage, they were a mess already—an unreliable ally that could easily backstab you.

It was better to act alone. You fight your war, and we fight ours.

"Kitsuchi."

"Father." Kitsuchi bowed respectfully, looking at Onoki.

Jumping down from his chair, Onoki walked with his hands behind his back, saying, "I need to stay in the Land of Earth to guard against Kumogakure and the Third Raikage. The war with Konoha will have to rely on you."

Compared to others, Onoki trusted his son more. Sure, Kitsuchi wasn't the brightest when it came to politics, and he disliked troublesome matters, but on the battlefield, he was an excellent soldier—worthy of this important responsibility.

"Kitsuchi will not disappoint you, Father."

"You idiot, how many times have I told you—call me Lord Tsuchikage here!! You fool!!!"

"Yes, yes."

Deep within the dense forest, tens of miles from the Land of Fire's border, Takuya, Sakumo Hatake, and Nara Shikashige sat together. Looking at the two who seemed utterly uninterested, Takuya's face carried a smile, but inside, he was grumbling. These two old guys really knew how to pass the buck!

Takuya felt tired. He wanted to return to Konoha and tell Tsunade that he was done!

"Sir, the enemy hasn't forcibly invaded the Land of Fire. Instead, they've occupied the border outposts and set up camp. Our forces have already clashed with their patrol squads, and we've found numerous traps they've laid around," a scout reported.

Three commanders, and none of them seemed inclined to speak up. Sarutobi Shiji, watching them silently sitting there, had a headache. What was the Hokage thinking, putting these three together?

One was a former village hero, who after becoming disillusioned by certain high-ranking actions, wanted to retire. He had finally returned, but only to serve quietly as a squad leader.

Another was an Senior, but after being brought back from retirement, he completely refused to take charge of anything—afraid of getting himself or his clan caught up in power struggles.

The last was a kid clinging to Konoha's princess's coattails, yet his strength was terrifying.

What kind of heavenly combination was this?

"Well, what do you think?" Sakumo asked Takuya. Nara Shikashige smiled faintly, showing no intention of speaking first.

Takuya sighed internally, complaining about the two of them.

"The surrounding villages weren't attacked or looted?" Takuya asked, puzzled.

That didn't seem like something Sunagakure would do. During the last war, Sunagakure's ninjas wreaked havoc across the Land of Fire, causing massive destruction. Sunagakure was poor and liked plundering resources. When they went wild, not even the Daimyo's palace in the Land of Rivers was safe.

"No, they weren't," Sarutobi Shiji replied, shaking his head seriously.

He couldn't understand what Sunagakure was planning either. Could they want an honorable fight without dirty tricks? That didn't fit the Third Kazekage's character. It felt strange, and something was off.

"During the last war, Sunagakure attacked while Konoha wasn't prepared, storming into the Land of Fire and destroying many villages, stealing a lot of resources," Sakumo said.

The stark contrast made him wonder if something was wrong with the Third Kazekage.

Nara Shikashige listened quietly. From the moment the Third Hokage called him back, knowing he couldn't refuse, he decided to stay low and say little. With the power struggle between Tsunade and Orochimaru as potential Hokage candidates, Nara wouldn't involve himself or his clan in it.

It was better to leave the stage to the younger generation—an old man like him had no place meddling.

Taking out a map, Takuya compared the distances between their forces and Sunagakure's defenses, then asked, "Senior, what do you think Sunagakure's goal is? Is this just a smokescreen, or is the Third Kazekage genuinely avoiding targeting villages?"

Did they make some sort of compromise?

Takuya started recalling major events involving Sunagakure after the war ended.

First, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind was furious because Sunagakure targeted the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers, looting resources. This drew condemnation from other Daimyo worldwide. Humiliated, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind refused to fund Sunagakure for a time.

Fortunately, the fury subsided, and the Daimyo realized he still needed Sunagakure to maintain his power. Eventually, he approached the Daimyo of the Land of Fire to help Sunagakure purchase supplies under his name. Having just ended the war, Konoha needed resources too. Besides, the Fire Daimyo despised the Third Kazekage—if he had any sense, he wouldn't easily sell supplies to Sunagakure.

Surely, some deal was made.

"It's likely not just a smokescreen."

Support Naruto: I Traveled with a Max Level AccountAfter thinking for a moment, Sakumo Hatake shook his head and said, "I don't know what the Third Kazekage is planning either. While this doesn't seem like his style, he really hasn't touched any of the villages. But we must be careful. We need to inspect these villages to prevent any enemy spies from sneaking in and causing trouble behind our backs once the fighting begins."

Spies, apart from gathering intelligence, also specialized in sowing discord—a daily task for them. If many spies infiltrated villages across the Land of Fire, they could easily stir up a lot of trouble by misleading the uninformed villagers.

"The matter of spies is best handled by the Anbu. Our focus should remain on dealing with Sunagakure's forces," Takuya said, uninterested in dealing with spies. His priority was the Sunagakure army; everything else was secondary.

"Either way, the fact that the enemy hasn't attacked the nearby villages is good news for us. I suggest advancing thirty miles and setting up camp. After we drive out Sunagakure, we can consider moving the camp again. What do you think, Senior?"

"Me?" Sakumo pointed at himself, looking surprised for a moment before laughing. "Haha, you make the decisions; no need to ask me. I'm just a squad leader."

Squad leader my foot! Be serious.

Indeed, once someone's heart is broken, a single bad experience can make them indifferent to everything. Sakumo felt that way, and so did Takuya. If not for Tsunade, he wouldn't be stressing over these matters. Wouldn't being an ordinary Jonin be better? No worries, just doing the tasks you're assigned. After a mission, relax. Have some fun. Unlike now, where you have to care about everything.

Luckily, Nara Shikashige handled most of the logistical nightmares. Otherwise, Takuya really might lose his mind—organizing those things was far from his forte.

"Alright, advance thirty miles and set up camp," Takuya said.

The troops pushed forward, constructing a camp about thirty miles from the border outpost. They needed to establish it before the second wave of ninja reinforcements arrived. With only a thousand men, they couldn't compete with Sunagakure. Konoha had to fight on two fronts, meaning they couldn't dispatch thousands of ninjas all at once; reinforcements would come in waves.

"Yes, sir!" Sarutobi Shiji followed Takuya's orders well, even though he didn't entirely approve of him. But Takuya was Tsunade's chosen man, and neither Sakumo Hatake nor Nara Shikashige had voiced any objections, so what choice did he have? Orders were orders—if things went wrong, at least he wouldn't be the one bearing responsibility.

Both sides' patrols frequently clashed, fighting over advantageous spots and setting up hidden posts—the invisible struggle was just beginning. Constructing a camp wasn't hard for ninjas. With materials readily available and Earth Release jutsu in play, they built the essential walls of the camp within hours.

Inside a tent serving as the temporary command center, Takuya spoke to Sakumo. "Senior, I'll rely on you to clear out the surrounding enemies."

If Sakumo Hatake didn't want to manage things, he could at least cause trouble for the enemy.

Though Takuya wasn't a master strategist, he knew how to assign roles effectively. Sakumo was the perfect person to lean on—given his reputation years ago of terrifying Sunagakure, sending him to take care of enemies was a guaranteed success.

"No problem, leave it to me. I'll make sure the enemy can't get near the camp," Sakumo said, gripping his White Fang short sword seriously. Takuya assigning him to clean up the enemy made perfect sense. This was what a leading Jonin was supposed to do—as long as it kept him away from internal power struggles, he was fine with it.

Takuya selected ten Jonin squads and put them under Sakumo's command. How they proceeded from there was up to Sakumo.

You really know how to delegate, don't you? Weren't you supposed to quietly be a guiding Jonin? And now you're tossing all these people at me? Sakumo thought, exasperated. Still, he didn't refuse. After resting briefly, he took his men and left the camp.

I may not know how to command, but if I know someone capable, I'll just delegate. You'll handle it; you're dependable. No complaints, right?

Takuya smiled, having effectively put the burden on Sakumo.

"Now, Senior, I'll leave the rest to you. I'm heading out to scout the enemy and survey the terrain," Takuya said before disappearing, leaving everything else to Nara Shikashige.

"I..." Watching the now-empty command center, Shikashige was stunned, his old face full of disbelief. What was this? I'm losing my mind here!

With Sakumo tricked into leaving and Takuya disappearing without a trace, there was no chance for a reversal. Shikashige was left alone in the command center, wide-eyed and bewildered.

If Sakumo went to do what he did best, and Takuya had bolted, all the responsibilities left behind would fall on Shikashige's shoulders—inescapable.

"That brat! So sly!" Shikashige muttered after recovering from his shock, though his tone carried an amused smile.

Not that Takuya heard him. By then, he had already left the camp, humming a tune while wandering around the camp's vicinity.

"They want me to carry the flag? No way."

Takuya knew his strengths. He wasn't going to force himself into handling things he wasn't skilled at—not only would he mess up, but it could also lead to disaster. Because of Tsunade, Takuya had no intention of allowing a slip-up in this war that would lead to him having to handle everything alone.

His idea was to bulldoze through directly, though he hadn't voiced that thought aloud. He knew that approach was dangerous, and nobody would agree to it. Despite their reluctance to get involved, both Sakumo and Shikashige would surely jump at him if he proposed it—not out of distrust but out of fear he might do something reckless.

Although they knew Takuya was strong—he had easily repelled the Three-Tails at the coastal battlefield not long ago—it didn't mean he was invincible.

After all, Shukaku, the One-Tail, was nothing more than a big toy in front of the Third Kazekage. Did that make the Third Kazekage invincible? In war, strength relied on the army.

Takuya decided to take a walk as reconnaissance. He'd gather information for now and hold off on making any other decisions. He planned to return to the camp in a few days, hopefully when reinforcements had arrived.

With that in mind, Takuya quickly left the camp, moving towards the border. Soon enough, he encountered a Sunagakure patrol unit and easily eliminated them before continuing forward. The closer he got to the border, the higher the chance of running into enemies. Takuya had dealt with quite a few foes by the time he reached the border.

However, Sakumo Hatake was facing more trouble. With a larger group, it was easier for Sunagakure to spot them. Less than an hour after Sakumo entered the field, news of the famous White Fang of Konoha spread.

The Third Kazekage quickly took this seriously. Sakumo Hatake was an old rival, and the Kazekage knew very well how powerful he was—a force that could change the tide of war and had to be addressed.

After two more patrol teams fell to Sakumo, the Third Kazekage went to provide backup. Unfortunately, it was pointless—by the time he arrived, the Konoha ninjas had already cleaned up and left. All that remained were battle scars—no bodies, not even a hint of evidence.

Ninja corpses were considered valuable war loot—sources of information that could reveal secrets. Sakumo Hatake certainly wasn't going to leave bodies behind for the enemy.

Standing on iron sand with a few Sunagakure ninjas, the Third Kazekage landed a hundred meters away from the Konoha forces. On the Konoha side, Sakumo stood calmly, while his men were visibly nervous. After all, the Third Kazekage's power had been famous for years.

Facing such a formidable opponent, even Jonin couldn't help but feel uneasy. Thankfully, they had no reason to fear; their leader, Sakumo Hatake, was equally formidable—more than a match for the Kazekage. The difference lay only in their preferred techniques: one relied on Lightning Release and swordsmanship, while the other possessed a unique kekkei genkai.

In the original story, the Third Kazekage had died a rather unfortunate death. Now, he was alive and well since Sasori hadn't yet grown strong enough to kill him. And with the Third Shinobi World War breaking out, the timeline had changed, allowing the Kazekage to survive. Though Sasori certainly wanted him dead, he hadn't found the right opportunity.

"I didn't expect we'd meet again," the Third Kazekage said in a calm voice. "I thought you'd truly retired."

The Kazekage's voice was devoid of animosity—it sounded more like meeting an old friend rather than facing an adversary. Behind him, Sunagakure's new generation of strong ninjas, Rasa and Pakura, watched Sakumo warily, sneaking curious glances at him.

They had heard of Sakumo Hatake's formidable reputation long ago. During the Second Shinobi World War, they had been considered talents and were kept from the battlefield, still lacking enough strength to fight. Everything they knew of Sakumo was from word of mouth.

Seeing the slightly aged, serene man before them, Rasa and Pakura couldn't help but wonder—was this man truly as strong as everyone said?

How could someone look so unassuming?

Sakumo wasn't old—barely in his late thirties—but years of fighting and relentless training, coupled with a slightly older appearance, made him seem older. He wasn't even forty yet, only a few years older than the Sannin. But being betrayed by Danzo and the Third Hokage, being left heartbroken, had caused Sakumo to age overnight.

It showed just how deep the wounds inflicted by the Third Hokage and Danzo were.

"I also thought you were done for," Sakumo replied. "Who knew it would only take a few years for Sunagakure to tear up the peace treaty and declare war on Konoha once more?"

The two knew each other well, and both had fought as adversaries for a long time. They weren't going to resort to family insults—they maintained a fairly civil conversation.

The Third Kazekage ignored the jab, his hands folded behind his back. He spoke indifferently, "If not for the huge war indemnities, I wouldn't have taken this path. Blame it on Konoha's greed."

Of course, those in power were always shameless.

Sakumo resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Really? You say that with a straight face?

It wasn't Konoha that started the war—it was you, sending your people into the Land of Fire to kill and destroy villages, steal from civilians. The reparations were high because of you, and now you say it's someone else's fault?

Sakumo gave the Third Kazekage a sarcastic smile—so fake it couldn't be any more obvious.

"If that's how you see it, Kazekage, then there's nothing more to say. I'll see you on the battlefield."

"I'm disappointed in you," the Third Kazekage said, shaking his head. "You've lost your old spirit. It seems the Konoha higher-ups' actions have affected you greatly. I didn't expect that, even after preparing to retire, you would still fight for Konoha. Aren't you afraid of history repeating itself?"

"I'm just doing a favor. Besides," Sakumo said, his expression blank, "I'm just an ordinary squad leader—not your opponent."

He used Takuya's favorite phrase—he found it rather amusing. It had a certain ring to it, especially when mocking others.

"..."

The Third Kazekage froze, and Rasa and Pakura were also stunned.

Ordinary? You?

Wasn't Sakumo Hatake the commander of Konoha's western front?

The Third Kazekage ignored his words. If Sakumo was "ordinary," then no one in the world was ordinary.

But who could it be?

"Be careful," Sakumo continued, "he's not as polite as I am. His methods are far worse. But he should be perfect to deal with someone like you."

The two weren't going to fight, so there was no point in lingering. Sakumo waved and left with his men. The Third Kazekage didn't try to stop him—he just frowned, trying to figure out who Sakumo was referring to.

Could it be Danzo?

Hadn't Konoha sidelined Danzo?

How capable was that old man?

Support Naruto: I Traveled with a Max Level AccountThe Third Kazekage acknowledged Danzo's ruthless methods, but as for his command ability... that was questionable.

On the battlefield of the Land of Rain, Danzo had already shown what he was capable of.

It was only thanks to the young Sannin that Konoha managed to hold on; otherwise, countless more lives would have been lost before the war ended.

As for Danzo.

It wasn't that the Third Kazekage looked down on him, but if Danzo was truly capable, he wouldn't have had his house so easily raided by Chiyo.

He even nearly got himself killed and ended up disabled.

It was unlikely to be Danzo.

So who could it be?

It was improbable that the Third Hokage would personally make a move. Tsunade was stationed in Konoha, while Orochimaru and Jiraiya were at the eastern front.

Excluding these individuals, the Third Kazekage truly couldn't guess who else Konoha could send to confront him. According to Hatake Sakumo's description, it was someone formidable.

Could it be some hidden powerhouse secretly nurtured by Konoha?

That didn't seem likely.

"Let's head back!"

The Third Kazekage waved his hand and led his people back to the camp.

On the other side, someone curiously asked:

"Lord Sakumo, is Lord Takuya really..."

He wanted to ask if Takuya was really so ruthless, but as he was about to speak, he realized that their young commander, though young, was a genius of the village.

Not only was Takuya strong, but he was also their superior. Describing him in such a way felt inappropriate—it could easily lead to problems for him.

"I was bluffing. Did you all actually believe me?"

Sakumo believed Takuya was strong.

He also believed that Takuya was decisive and liked to take bold actions.

But to say that Takuya was ruthless? Sakumo couldn't help but feel awkward—he hadn't seen any such side of Takuya.

He had only said that to provoke the Third Kazekage.

Ruthless, my foot.

It was just tough talk.

"..."

Bluffing?

Everyone was speechless. They hadn't expected that even the honest Hatake Sakumo could do something like that.

And to say it so confidently—I was bluffing!

"Sensei, doesn't this 'White Fang of Konoha' seem a bit..."

Rasa didn't know how to put his thoughts into words. The Third Kazekage glanced at him and said calmly:

"A bit unworthy of his reputation?"

"Yes."

Although he felt there was more to what his teacher was saying, Rasa stuck to his opinion even if it was wrong. He gritted his teeth and nodded heavily.

Are you an idiot?

Pakura looked at Rasa like he was a fool.

Hearing his student's affirmation, the Third Kazekage's mouth twitched slightly, and his tone turned more severe:

"Remember, never underestimate anyone, especially your enemies. You never know what method they'll use to kill you. And don't question the strength of those whose names have spread across the shinobi world, as your doubt and arrogance can get you killed."

"If you encounter him on the battlefield, I allow you both to abandon your mission and retreat immediately."

"..."

Isn't that a bit of an overstatement?

Wasn't that too high of an evaluation?

Rasa opened his mouth in disbelief. No matter how he looked at Sakumo, he didn't seem like a powerhouse—he appeared old, with none of the aura a strong shinobi should have.

I can't watch this anymore.

I actually competed with such an idiot for so many years!

Pakura rubbed her forehead.

"Lord Kazekage, I still have patrol duties, so I won't disturb you any further."

"Hmm, go ahead."

The Third Kazekage nodded slightly. While Pakura was better than Rasa in some respects, he wasn't too fond of her.

After all, Rasa was his student, personally trained as his successor.

As the next generation leader of the village, the Third Kazekage favored and supported his student more.

"Damn it!"

Once out of the command post, Pakura's face darkened.

She didn't know what more she could do to make the Third Kazekage acknowledge her and stop favoring Rasa.

Recalling the patience the Third Kazekage showed Rasa while being cold to her, Pakura felt powerless.

She was confident she could compete with Rasa, but some things couldn't be achieved through effort alone.

Rasa's magnetic release abilities and his position as the Third Kazekage's student gave him too much of an advantage.

It wasn't something she could overcome by simply working harder.

"You all, follow me."

While Rasa was with the Third Kazekage every day learning, Pakura, who was no weaker, was left patrolling and handling trivial matters, which only worsened her mood. Her tone turned icy as she addressed her companions.

What's bothering Lady Pakura now?

The few of them shuddered and quickly followed Pakura out of the camp for their patrol duties.

Before the major battles started, patrol duties were the most common and frequent tasks in the camp.

With pent-up frustration, Pakura led her team to the patrol area, dutifully carrying out her mission while suppressing her dissatisfaction with Rasa and the Third Kazekage.

A kunoichi in the team who had a good relationship with Pakura cautiously asked:

"Lady Pakura, do you think we can win this war?"

"Of course we can!"

Pakura replied confidently.

"Our village isn't weak. Though we're not as strong as Konoha overall, Konoha isn't what it used to be. Besides, they're also fighting Kirigakure, and they've already taken significant losses. Fighting on two fronts means they can't possibly win."

"That's great! If we win the war, we won't have to bear the heavy reparations, right?

Because of that, the rewards for our missions have been cut, and we've been earning a lot less."

The kunoichi cheered at Pakura's words.

Although shinobi made a lot of money, their expenses were also high, and with fewer missions available in Sunagakure, they couldn't earn as much as Konoha's shinobi.

As a result, most shinobi in Sunagakure lived rather frugally.

"We will win."

Recalling the village's hardships since the Second Shinobi World War, Pakura clenched her fist and said with conviction:

"Victory will be ours, and our living conditions will improve. Trust me, and trust in Lord Kazekage."

Despite her discontent, Pakura knew what was right. She still had faith in the Third Kazekage.

She wouldn't let personal issues affect her judgment of the Kazekage.

"That's wonderful."

The group chatted away, talking excitedly.

Since the major battle hadn't yet begun, the Suna shinobi hadn't fully entered a wartime mindset, and their vigilance had dropped significantly.

Combined with certain hidden measures, they didn't even notice that a young Konoha shinobi was nearby, listening to their conversation from a tree, his expression odd.

Sunagakure will win?

Big words.

This must be Pakura of Sunagakure.

The distinctive green hair, elegant face, special halter backless ninja outfit, and a figure comparable to Tsunade's all told Takuya that this was none other than Pakura, Sunagakure's scorch release user.

Rasa's old rival, eventually betrayed and killed by Rasa in collaboration with Kirigakure.

Are you really okay being this careless?

Talking so boldly right in front of me—I almost feel embarrassed for eavesdropping.

The Suna shinobi's lack of vigilance and Takuya's strong concealment led to this bizarre scene on the battlefield.

Seeing that the conversation showed no signs of stopping, Takuya couldn't help but interrupt:

"What if you lose? Won't the Suna shinobi end up without even their underwear?"

"Nonsense, I have confidence in Lord Kazekage and our village."

Pakura hadn't realized there was someone nearby and thought it was one of her teammates speaking. She turned her head, glaring at them with a cold expression.

But what she saw were stunned, shocked faces.

Oh no, an enemy!

Damn it, I was too careless.

Because of Lord Kazekage's indulgence and favoritism towards that bastard Rasa, I let my dissatisfaction lower my guard.

Pakura regretted her carelessness. Two fireballs, burning with orange flames and clear like magatama, floated up and launched towards where Takuya was hiding.

"Boom!!!"

A terrifying explosion swept through the area, enveloping everything within a hundred-meter radius of Takuya's hiding spot in the blast of the scorch release's unique fireballs.

With thick smoke rising, a massive crater appeared on the ground.

Scorch Release is indeed powerful; its strength is almost on par with the average Lightning Explosion.

Seeing the huge crater left by the blast, Takuya's eyes lit up.

Pakura's Scorch Release didn't seem so unimpressive after all.

"Miss Pakura, watch out!"

Amid the cries of her companions, Pakura pulled out two kunai and blocked in front of her.

Clang!

The Grasscutter Sword clashed against her kunai. The powerful force transmitted through her arm made Pakura pause slightly. Her long leg swept toward Takuya:

"Send the signal immediately! Yagami Takuya of Konoha is here!"

If the shinobi of Sunagakure had a list of those they hated the most, Hatake Sakumo would undoubtedly be at the top.

And Takuya would be second.

Although Takuya hadn't killed many Suna shinobi, his humiliation of the Third Kazekage and the damage to his reputation was enough for all of Sunagakure's shinobi to despise him.

Thus, Takuya's image was widely known among the shinobi of Sunagakure, and they were all aware of the precautions to take when encountering Yagami Takuya.

For instance, they shouldn't look directly into his eyes, or they'd fall under his terrifying genjutsu.

As the battle erupted, Pakura kept her head down, avoiding eye contact with Takuya, gritting her teeth as she forced him back, and reminding her teammates to send out the signal.

Even if she was confident in her abilities, Pakura wasn't foolish enough to think she could take down Takuya alone.

This fight couldn't go on like this.

After a few exchanges, Pakura realized her kunai wouldn't hold up. Fortunately, she could still control her Scorch Release to attack.

Four fireballs hovered around, raising the temperature considerably. The distorted air around the fireballs made it evident that they were intensely hot—being touched would certainly strip away a layer of skin.

The four fireballs whooshed towards Takuya.

Instead of retreating, Takuya countered, the Grasscutter Sword in his hand lighting up with purple-blue energy:

"Lightning Slash!"

The purple-blue energy covered the Grasscutter Sword, extending its blade significantly as he swung it toward the four fireballs.

"Boom!"

A powerful explosion shockwave swept through. Pakura pulled out a new kunai and quickly retreated.

At that moment, she had no time to worry about her comrades affected by the shockwave—she couldn't afford any distractions.

Damn it, Yagami Takuya has actually moved from the coastline battlefield.

Sunagakure had always been gathering information about Takuya.

Pakura knew quite a lot about Takuya, especially about his feat of slicing through the Three-Tails at the coastline battlefield.

Facing such a formidable opponent, Pakura dared not be careless.

"Whoosh!"

The signal flare shot up into the sky and exploded like a giant firework. Upon seeing it, many Suna shinobi rushed to the battle's location, including the Third Kazekage himself.

The battle was too close to the camp, and the commotion was hard to miss, especially with the signal flare.

"Your Kekkei Genkai is quite impressive, and your strength is nothing to scoff at."

Takuya wasn't concerned about the signal flare. Instead, he found himself growing interested in Pakura.

Did it have no effect?

Clenching her teeth, Pakura remained silent, gripping her kunai tightly as she continued fighting.

A bright light flashed, and Pakura kept her head low, blocking with her kunai.

Clang!

The kunai clashed with the Grasscutter Sword, and Pakura's heart skipped a beat at the sensation of the kunai being cut through.

Her kunai was severed, and the Grasscutter Sword didn't stop, continuing its path toward Pakura's throat.

Am I going to die on the battlefield like this?

To die at the hands of Yagami Takuya?

Pakura froze. At that moment, she didn't even have time to react.

All her skills seemed useless at this point.

Even though there were many abilities she hadn't used, it didn't matter now—there wasn't enough time.

The sharp blade was already at her throat, and she didn't even have time to close her eyes and accept her fate.

But instead of the pain of a blade piercing her throat, she felt a heavy blow to the back of her neck.

Her body instinctively stiffened, her eyes widened, and the broken kunai in her hand fell to the ground as she slumped down.

Takuya sheathed the Grasscutter Sword and supported the unconscious Pakura. Under the stunned gaze of her companions, he casually slung her over his shoulder.

He looked every bit like a bandit abducting an innocent maiden.

"Tell your Kazekage that this woman is interesting. I'm taking her with me—no need to see me off, I'll be on my way."

With his palm on his forehead in a mocking farewell gesture, Takuya laughed heartily as he carried Pakura away.

"What just happened?"

Not thirty seconds after Takuya left, the Third Kazekage arrived, stepping down from iron sand.

He glanced around at the chaotic scene, the pockmarked ground, and the lingering traces of battle in the air, but he saw no sign of Pakura or her opponent.

Instead, he found Pakura's patrol team standing there, dumbfounded, as if they'd been frightened.

"Hmph!"

Seeing this, the Third Kazekage snorted coldly.

The kunoichi who had a good relationship with Pakura suddenly snapped out of it, almost crying as she pleaded:

"Lord Kazekage, please save Lady Pakura! She's been taken by Yagami Takuya of Konoha."

"?"

"Yagami Takuya?"

Wasn't that guy supposed to be at the coastline battlefield?

But now wasn't the time to be curious. The Third Kazekage ascended into the sky on his iron sand, chasing after Takuya in the direction he had left.

Pakura was one of the key individuals among Sunagakure's new generation, and although the Third Kazekage preferred Rasa, that didn't mean Pakura was unimportant.

On the contrary, Pakura was far more capable than Rasa in many respects.

Losing such a promising shinobi to the enemy was no small matter.

Especially since she had been taken by the one he despised the most.

Just thinking about some of Takuya's past actions made the Third Kazekage's eyes burn with fury.

Damn brat!

Cursing inwardly, the Third Kazekage sped toward Konoha's camp, hoping to intercept Takuya and rescue Pakura along the way.

But what the Third Kazekage hadn't expected was that he wouldn't even catch a glimpse of Takuya.

Before reaching Konoha's camp, he was intercepted by Hatake Sakumo.

There was almost no hope of rescuing Pakura.

"Damn it!!!"

The Third Kazekage couldn't accept this outcome. But facing Hatake Sakumo, his rage was useless—others might fear him, but Sakumo did not.

It was just another battle, and being this close to the Konoha camp, was the Kazekage sure he wanted to fight here?

If the Third Kazekage was willing to fight, Sakumo didn't mind obliging him.

After a tense standoff, the Third Kazekage gritted his teeth and left.

"Why did the Kazekage suddenly show up?"

Nara Shikashige approached Sakumo, curiously watching the fading dot in the sky.

Shrugging, Sakumo looked like he had no idea:

"Who knows, maybe he was just scouting the area. But he looked like he was suppressing his anger—who provoked him?"

"Was it Takuya?"

Could it be that he found out about Takuya's arrival and stormed over in a rage?

Would the Third Kazekage really be that foolish?

"He ran off, said he was going to scout the terrain and gather intel, leaving everything else to me, then took off."

Nara Shikashige wore a dark expression, complaining about Takuya's actions.

Emmmm...

Hatake Sakumo's expression turned strange. He glanced at Shikashige's unhappy face and let out an awkward laugh:

"A lot of bodies were just brought in. I should go see if the intel department can uncover anything useful."

With that, Sakumo quickly made his exit.

Shikaku sighed silently—he had clearly been dragged into the mess, and Sakumo wasn't going to let it happen to himself again.

Takuya, on the other hand, didn't return to camp directly after capturing Pakura.

The battle had caused a huge commotion, and the Third Kazekage would certainly come to investigate.

No matter how fast Yagami Takuya could run, there was no way he could outrun the Third Kazekage, who could fly.

So Takuya decisively changed direction, finding a hidden place to stay.

The cave entrance was well-concealed, and inside the dim cave, Pakura, who had been knocked unconscious, slowly began to regain her senses.

"Where is this?"

Wait—no!

Have I been captured?

Realizing the situation, Pakura tried to resist, only to find she couldn't use any chakra.

Her chakra had been sealed.

And the one who had captured her and sealed her chakra was sitting nearby, chewing on a piece of grass, his arms crossed as he looked at her with an amused expression.

"What, are you still worried about me running away after sealing my chakra?"

Pakura noticed her hands and feet were bound.

"Just an extra precaution."

Spitting out the grass, Takuya eyed Pakura's sullen face:

"I wouldn't want my hard-earned captive to escape carelessly. Besides, the rope is simply a tool for interrogation."

"Hmph!"

Being a captive, she knew interrogation was inevitable.

Pakura didn't fool herself into thinking that Takuya had captured her without intending to question her or extract information about Sunagakure.

But Takuya underestimated her if he thought he could easily get village information from her—he was dreaming.

Pakura turned her head, ignoring him. Takuya didn't mind and smiled:

"The beautiful Pakura, would you kindly share some of your village's information with me?

Don't worry, I'm not interested in Sunagakure's secrets, only public information. If you give me the intel, I'll let you go. How does that sound?"

"Dream on!"

Pakura gritted her teeth, glaring fiercely at him, her expression one of pure defiance as if she wanted to tear him apart.

Pakura lowered her head and closed her eyes. Now that she had been captured, she was prepared for harsh interrogation.

She didn't want to engage Takuya in conversation—she feared that if she cursed him, he might retaliate with cruel methods.

To obtain information, interrogators could use any brutal means necessary. No one would show mercy, not even to a female shinobi.

"Maybe."

Takuya chuckled indifferently, unfazed by Pakura's hostility.

Pakura was one of the key figures in Sunagakure's new generation. If she gave up intel too easily, Takuya would find it suspicious and assume the information was fake.

As for torture, Takuya had no interest in such methods. He believed Pakura would eventually give him the information he wanted.

Looking up, Takuya noticed a narrow crevice in the cave ceiling—just wide enough for a kunai. He jumped up and wedged two kunai in place, looping the rope through and testing its strength before suspending Pakura from it.

He made sure her hands and feet couldn't apply any force before leisurely leaving the cave.

He needed to make preparations in case the Suna shinobi came looking.

Rasa wasn't feeling pleased at all, despite his competitor being captured by the enemy.

Pakura's capture would severely impact Sunagakure's morale.

The war had not yet fully erupted, but one of Sunagakure's prominent figures, Pakura, had already been captured—and by the person they hated most.

It was hard for anyone to accept such an outcome.

Neither Rasa nor the Third Kazekage could accept it.

At the command center, Sunagakure's high-ranking officials and jonin without missions had all gathered.

"Pakura's capture is bad news for us. She knows much about the village's operations, and if she can't endure the interrogation, then..."

Thinking from the village's perspective, Chiyo naturally hoped Pakura could withstand Konoha's interrogation. But when she thought about the Yamanaka Clan's special abilities...

Chiyo's confidence wavered.

Pakura, like others, would have prepared defenses in her mind to prevent information leakage.

But such measures could only prevent ordinary interrogation. If a Yamanaka clan member was involved, things could become dire.

"We must adjust the village's deployment as much as possible."

Ebizo's face darkened.

The jonin kept their heads down, remaining silent.

With a sigh, Chiyo said:

"During wartime, we can't negotiate diplomatically to bring her back. We can only try to locate where she's being held and rescue her if possible."

The command post fell silent.

After a long pause, the Third Kazekage spoke:

"I'll make adjustments to the village's military deployment. As for Pakura, I'll send people to locate where she's being held and attempt a rescue. If Konoha tries to transport her back to the village, we will intercept her en route. I'll personally take action."

Pakura was not a low-ranking figure in Sunagakure. With her importance, Konoha would likely want to transport her back to their village for safekeeping.

The Third Kazekage believed intercepting her during transport was their best chance for rescue—sneaking into Konoha's camp was almost hopeless.

"That's all for now. Everyone, thank you for your efforts."

The Third Kazekage was tired of discussing so many unpleasant matters.

"Yes, Lord Kazekage."

Everyone left the command post one by one, leaving only Rasa with his mentor.

At that moment, Rasa's emotions were complicated—shocked, and a mix of feelings.

He didn't get along with Pakura; they were rivals who always clashed.

But aside from their rivalry, their personal relationship wasn't as bad as others thought. Pakura was close to his wife, Karura.

Who would have thought that in just a short time, Pakura would be captured?

Even his mentor, the Third Kazekage, hadn't been able to rescue her.

It was like something out of a bad novel, but it had happened for real.

"Sensei, is it true that Pakura was captured by Yagami Takuya?"

Rasa still found it hard to believe.

"Yes."

The Third Kazekage slowly put down his teacup, suppressing the fury in his heart, and spoke calmly:

"From the moment he attacked to when he took her, it took less than two minutes. By the time I arrived, he was already gone, and the kid is skilled at hiding his tracks—I couldn't find him."

"When I neared the Konoha camp, I was intercepted by Hatake Sakumo."

"So does that mean Pakura can't be rescued for now?"

Support Naruto: I Traveled with a Max Level Account"It's difficult."

The possibility of keeping her in the dark was not something the Third Kazekage hadn't considered.

But he believed it was highly unlikely.

Konoha was eager for all kinds of information on Sunagakure, and the most likely scenario was that Pakura was being held in the Konoha camp, and she might have already begun being interrogated.

Although Pakura wasn't an ordinary shinobi, and the chances of her betraying the village were slim, the Third Kazekage had to prepare for the worst.

From the moment Pakura was captured, she had become a potential risk for both him and Sunagakure.

"You can go rest now. When you're on a mission, make sure to focus and stay alert to every movement around you. Pakura was ambushed because she let her guard down."

After questioning Pakura's squad members, the Third Kazekage learned how the battle unfolded.

Upon hearing the details, the Third Kazekage felt a storm of frustration in his heart.

Foolish!

Absolutely foolish!

The enemy was right under their noses, and they hadn't noticed!

Even though Pakura was one of the village's next-generation elites, the disparity in abilities was glaring.

Once he was sure there were no immediate threats, Takuya returned to the cave.

Inside the cave, Pakura was still hanging in mid-air. Upon seeing Takuya return, she glared daggers at him.

"Don't look at me like that. Unless you're willing to give me the information I need, there's no way I'm letting you down."

"In your dreams!!"

It seemed there was no negotiating.

Takuya shrugged, not particularly concerned, because he had plenty of time to play the waiting game with Pakura.

What the hell is this guy trying to do?

Could he really be after information?

Pakura watched as Takuya ate some dried food, covered the cave entrance, and then leaned back to rest. She was baffled.

She had expected intense questioning or even terrifying forms of interrogation.

But nothing happened. Takuya had simply sealed her chakra, tied her up to prevent her escape, and left it at that.

Time passed, and while Takuya was able to rest comfortably, Pakura was in a far more uncomfortable situation.

Anyone with their hands and feet tied and hung in mid-air would be uncomfortable, not to mention Pakura had been hanging for an entire day.

Pakura's limbs were numb, but she remained resolute. She wasn't going to give in.

Takuya wasn't going to get any information out of her.

Noticing that she was secretly watching him, Takuya's lips curled slightly.

Who said that interrogation was the only way to get the information you wanted?

The game had just begun.

Takuya was curious to see just how long Pakura could hold out.

The next day, Takuya sat casually in the cave, munching on dried food and marking up his map.

Not far away, Pakura, who was still suspended, had a look of discomfort on her face.

Hanging for an entire day and night had left her limbs numb and aching. Though she was a shinobi with strong willpower and could endure the pain, hunger, and dehydration without complaint, there were some things even she couldn't control.

The real problem wasn't pain or hunger—those were trivial for many shinobi, especially an elite like Pakura.

The real problem was her body's natural needs...

Late in the night, almost near dawn, Pakura's expression suddenly changed, her pale face flushing bright red. She squirmed in discomfort.

She needed to use the bathroom...

As luck would have it, Takuya woke up right at that moment.

Time passed, and a few hours went by.

After holding it in for hours, Pakura's face was slick with sweat, her complexion shifting from white to red.

Suddenly, Takuya put down his map and said to Pakura:

"You can go ahead. I'll pretend I didn't see anything."

Pakura's expression darkened. He knew?

Was he doing this on purpose?

"No way!!!"

Pakura gritted her teeth—she realized Takuya had never intended to interrogate her; he had been waiting for this moment all along, just to humiliate her.

Takuya spread his hands in mock regret, defending himself:

"All I want is some basic information, not the secrets of Sunagakure. You don't need to endure this just for basic information. Give me what I want, and I'll let you go immediately."

You think I'd believe you?

Pakura scoffed.

Takuya continued:

"More importantly, it seems you haven't considered your current situation."

"What situation?"

Being a captive, hung up and facing the constant threat of humiliation—what situation could she even consider?

What was there for her to think about?

Taking another bite of his dried food, Takuya said:

"You only thought about not betraying the village, not giving up Sunagakure's secrets to me, but you didn't consider what your capture means. You've been taken as a captive—this is already a stain on your name.

"Even if you return to Sunagakure, do you think anyone will believe you?"

You say you weren't interrogated, that you didn't leak any information or secrets, but will anyone else believe that?

They won't, and you'll be lucky if they don't treat you like a potential spy.

This wasn't baseless fear; such was the harsh reality of a shinobi's life.

If a shinobi was captured, even if they returned to the village, the treatment they received wouldn't be any better.

Even if suspicion was eventually cleared, they would still be monitored and ostracized.

Takuya smiled softly, his tone gentle:

"Don't worry, when I let you go, I'll make sure to put in a good word for you, praising you as much as I can."

"Enough!! Stop talking!!!"

Pakura's face turned ashen. Putting in a good word for her? Praising her? That would only doom her.

Pakura couldn't help but think of her comrades who had been captured by Konoha during the war. After being exchanged back to the village, they were monitored, interrogated, ostracized.

And eventually, they all disappeared, one by one.

The moment she was captured by Takuya, her fate was sealed, inevitably moving toward this outcome.

The Third Kazekage wasn't a generous person; on the contrary, he was known to be petty.

Even if Takuya were to let Pakura go, she would be detained and subjected to repeated interrogations and surveillance. At best, she'd live out her days under the constant watch of Sunagakure's ANBU.

She wouldn't even be allowed to leave the village.

Because she was a risk.

"Rest assured, you still have some value. Even if the Third Kazekage is petty, he won't kill you just like that. At least, you're still a pretty woman, aren't you?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Pakura's eyes widened in fury.

"Nonsense! Lord Kazekage isn't like that!"

Even though there was a significant age gap and the Third Kazekage had never shown such interest, if he did...

Pakura wouldn't refuse, even if she didn't particularly like him.

"No, no, you've misunderstood me. Your Kazekage is as stern as steel—he'd rather play with sand than touch a woman. What I meant was, your body and your bloodline—why trust Pakura when they could cultivate your offspring instead? What do you think?"

"If your descendants also possess Scorch Release, it wouldn't be such a loss for Sunagakure."

Pakura was stunned—completely at a loss, because Takuya was speaking the truth.

I'll give you one hour to think about it: cooperate with me or keep resisting. I've got all the time in the world to play this game with you. To be honest, even without your intel, Sunagakure is destined to lose this war. I'm just trying to avoid making a big fuss. Sunagakure doesn't even register as a real threat to me."

"From the moment you were captured, Pakura, you became tainted. Your life can never go back to what it was. But if you can convince me of your sincerity, perhaps I could offer you a brand-new life."

"And if I refuse to cooperate?"

"If you refuse?"

Takuya folded his left arm across his chest, propped his right hand under his chin, and tilted his head as if deep in thought. Then, suddenly, he clapped his hands: "If you don't cooperate, then you don't. I'll take you back to camp, lock you up, and eventually send you to Konoha. I believe the higher-ups wouldn't mind having someone they can control who possesses Scorch Release. After all, it's a powerful Kekkei Genkai."

"You're shameless!"

"Thanks for the compliment. Remember, you've got one hour. After that, the offer expires."

It's best to return sooner rather than later; otherwise, Hatake Sakumo and Nara Shikashige will keep nagging me. Tsunade, you really gave me a troublesome task this time.

"But still..."

Turning Pakura into someone loyal to Konoha wouldn't be easy.

Takuya genuinely admired Pakura's potential. With her growth in the Scorch Release, she could very well become a Kage-level powerhouse in the future, capable of holding her own. She had that potential.

However, the question was how to keep her and have her willingly stay in Konoha. That would be quite a challenge.

Instead of leaving her in Sunagakure, where they'd likely sell her out and send her to her death, it was better for her to stay in Konoha.

Takuya wasn't just interested in her abilities—he wasn't merely coveting her. Though he admitted Pakura was quite attractive, and her figure... well, it was tempting.

An hour later, Takuya returned to the cave with two wild rabbits.

"Will you really let me go?"

"Yes, as long as you cooperate with me. When the war ends, I will personally release you and even escort you back to Sunagakure."

"Put me down. I need to go to the bathroom."

She had given in.

Not bad.

This was a good start.

After untying her, Pakura stumbled on her numb legs as she made her way into the woods. Meanwhile, Takuya stood at a distance, basking in the sunlight, thinking about what to do with Pakura next.

But this crafty woman—these so-called pieces of intel were things anyone could find out by interrogating just a few people. Did he really need her to tell him?

Indeed, convincing a powerful shinobi to betray their village was no simple task—especially one as stubborn and determined as Pakura.

Ten minutes later, Pakura emerged from the woods, her face returning to its usual color as she shot Takuya a sharp glare.

Takuya teased her: "I thought you might've pulled up your pants and run away."

"Don't look at me like that. Anyone would think I did something bad to you."

"I'll give you two options. First: stay by my side and help me with some tasks. When the war is over, I'll let you go."

"Second: I'll have someone take you to the village and lock you up. Once the war ends, we'll let you go."

I don't want either of those! I want to go back to Sunagakure!

Pakura clenched her fists weakly, her face expressionless as she asked: "What do you mean by staying by your side? Are you saying you won't restrict my freedom?"

"Are you dreaming?"

Pakura glared at him, her face darkened: "If you're going to restrict my freedom, then what's the point of staying by your side?"

"Let me think."

Given Pakura's situation, Takuya certainly wouldn't let her roam freely.

But directly imprisoning her would easily worsen her impression of him, making it harder to win her over later, and others wouldn't easily trust her.

So, Takuya's idea was to keep her by his side for a while.

"How about you make tea, do the laundry, and cook? You can do those things, right?"

A woman of your age—if you can't even make tea, do the laundry, or cook, I'd really have to scold you. Let's hope you're not another Tsunade.

Remembering Tsunade's messy lifestyle, Takuya eyed Pakura with a strange expression for a while: "Don't tell me you can't even do basic chores like making tea, doing laundry, or cooking."

...

Pakura gritted her teeth and held back her anger. With her chakra sealed, and knowing she couldn't beat this bastard, she had to endure!

In the end, Pakura chose the first option. Compared to being locked in a Konoha prison, she'd rather stay in Konoha's camp, staying by Takuya's side.

She was curious about where Takuya got such confidence, daring to dismiss Sunagakure like that, as if defeating them was no big deal.

"Sir, she..."

The camp guards were happy to see Takuya return, but their faces changed when they saw Pakura, who still wore her Sunagakure forehead protector.

"Don't mind her. She's just a captive I caught."

"Yes, sir! You really are amazing, capturing even Pakura, an elite jonin from Sunagakure."

...

Hearing the guard's flattery, Pakura felt mocked.

Even worse, Takuya waved it off indifferently: "It was nothing. I only caught Pakura, not the Third Kazekage."

Bastard, can you be any more excessive?

Pakura began grinding her teeth.

Takuya glanced back and asked nonchalantly: "What? You still not convinced? Did I say anything wrong? Aren't you my captive?"

As a captive, she had to act like one.

Pakura, your mindset really needs some work.

...

In the end, Pakura clenched her fist, then released it in resignation. She lowered her head and obediently followed behind Takuya.

Upon arriving at the command center, Nara Shikashige, who had been stressing over things, leaped up from his chair the moment he saw Takuya, grabbing him:

"You brat! You dumped all the work on me and ran off. Do you think you deserve Tsunade's trust in you? You leave all the trouble to an old man like me, and your conscience feels no guilt?"

Faced with Shikashige's rebuke, Takuya could only roll his eyes.

Realizing he might have overdone it, Shikashige cleared his throat, turning serious:

"Takuya, while I can handle many of these things for you, the responsibility ultimately falls on your shoulders. You can't just wander around, got it?"

"By the way, who's this?"

Only then did Shikashige notice Pakura standing behind Takuya: "Green hair, Sunagakure forehead protector... Is this Pakura?"

Though he was retired, Shikashige had kept tabs on Sunagakure's shinobi.

Pakura had been one of his primary subjects of interest. But why was she here, following Takuya around like some kind of assistant?

Care to explain?

Shikashige blinked in confusion.

Little did he know, at that very moment, Pakura's mind was in turmoil.

She knew Takuya was Konoha's prodigy, a powerhouse. It wasn't just hearsay—he had used genjutsu to control the Third Kazekage when he was only a few years old.

Such achievements weren't something ordinary people could accomplish.

He'd executed numerous dangerous missions with an impressive success rate. The only downside was his laziness—he didn't like leaving the village.

He had rampaged through Kirigakure, almost wiping out the Kaguya Clan by himself.

He defeated the Three-Tails with just a few strikes—these were Takuya's glorious feats.

But never in her wildest dreams had Pakura thought Konoha would assign him to lead the fight against Sunagakure.