Naruto: Fate System

Nagato paused in mid-air, his Rinnegan scanning the depths of Rōran's underground chambers. He relayed the situation to Shin.

"There's an enemy. That blond kid called him Urashiki." his eyes narrowed. "He's different from the others—more dangerous."

So, the real enemy revealed himsef this quickly? Shin watched the distant flashes of combat illuminate the underground passages.

"It seems these ninjas from the future really came back chasing an enemy. Preserving history might be their principle, but it's not their primary goal."

Nagato then asked, "What do we do next? That Hyūga is heading toward Rōran. Should we stop her?"

He was referring to Hanabi. Shin could see her figure moving across the desert landscape.

He thought for a moment and replied, "No, let her go."

Since it was clear their purpose wasn't to cross time solely to correct the world's timeline, there was no need for an all-out conflict.

And dealing with an unknown enemy might even require Six Paths Sasuke to take the lead.

"We'll head back to find Sēramu and check on Pakura's condition," he calmly instructed. "Since their primary target is Urashiki, we'll just take the Ryūmyaku for ourselves."

He had little interest in being a hero. He didn't feel obliged to fight Urashiki. For him, tangible benefits were far more real than lofty ideals.

As Sasuke and his group pursued Boruto for rescue, too distracted to intervene, Shin instructed Nagato to have Tendō avoid unnecessary aggression and just act as surveillance.

The puppet would serve better as their eyes than their fists. Then the group returned to the tower to meet Sēramu.

When they saw the queen again, her demeanor was more reverent than before—head lowered and submissive, as if offering herself without resistance.

Her royal posture was gone, replaced by the bearing of a defeated leader. Fear did wonders for cooperation.

It seems the earlier battle wasn't a waste, Shin chuckled inwardly.

Although his side hadn't gained much of an advantage in the fight against Sasuke and Hanabi, the psychological impact on Sēramu had been achieved perfectly.

The terrifying chaos outside the city—Susanoo rising from the ground, sandstorms and gales overturning the place, deafening booms and continuous explosions—all these had shaken Sēramu to her core.

She now fully realized her own insignificance and naivety. The battle had stripped away her pretenses, leaving only the raw truth of her vulnerability.

So, when Shin and his group descended upon the tower again, she immediately made her choice.

"Have those rogue ninjas been repelled? Thank you for your great kindness!"

Shin didn't bother lying and replied honestly, "They haven't left yet—they've gone underground in Rōran." His eyes fixed on her face, watching for any reaction.

"Sēramu-sama, why exactly are they here? What secrets does the Ryūmyaku hold? Isn't it time to tell us the truth?"

"Also, what exactly can the Ryūmyaku do, and how is it operated? Please, explain."

At that moment, Sēramu's expression grew bitter. She had long foreseen this day coming.

Clutching her garments tightly, her expression resembled that of a helpless wife being blackmailed: "You wouldn't want harm to come to your loved ones, would you?"

Although Shin didn't utter those words, Sēramu, for the sake of Rōran's survival, had no choice but to yield.

"I understand. Please, follow me." She turned toward a hidden doorway. "The energy of the Ryūmyaku is mostly concentrated underground, but its control center is actually located atop the tower."

She turned to lead the way, her swaying figure giving Shin the absurd feeling that he was a shameless opportunist.

The tower's winding stairs stretched endlessly upward.

On the way, Sēramu explained, "The Ryūmyaku can provide nearly infinite energy to Rōran's puppets and machinery. We've been using this energy to extract groundwater to sustain the city." She paused at a sealed door. "However, only the bloodline of my mother and I can control the Ryūmyaku."

Infinite energy? Shin envisioned numerous possibilities.

Just then, a battered Pakura also returned to the tower. Blood trickled from a cut on her cheek.

Judging by her appearance, she clearly hadn't fared well in her confrontation with Gaara.

Unlike Shin's group, who had turned their confrontation with Sasuke into a psychological battle, Pakura was completely defeated. She gained nothing—no information, no advantage.

Her loss was absolute.

Naturally, her mood upon returning was foul.

"What happened? That Suna traitor suddenly fled." She wiped blood from her chin.

"Did you figure out why they entered the desert?" she demanded urgently.

"They're currently fighting, and I'm using the opportunity to secure control of the Ryūmyaku for future advantage." Shin replied calmly.

Pakura, having been deceived too many times, was unusually perceptive this time. Her eyes narrowed as she looked between Shin and the submissive Sēramu.

"You're not securing future control! You're trying to monopolize the Ryūmyaku, aren't you?" Her fists clenched at her sides. "This is the Land of Wind's territory! Don't you think you're overreaching?"

She glared at Shin with suspicion, finally realizing she had brought a wolf into the fold. The bruises on her face made her scowl even more fierce.

As if reading her thoughts, Shin smirked slyly. He pushed away from the wall, moving closer to her. "Pakura, are you content to remain suppressed by your village's elders for the rest of your life?"

"What... are you suggesting?"

Shin spread his hands. "If you had full control over your village, we wouldn't be here today, would we?"

He circled her slowly. "You lack a solid foundation, support, and most importantly, resources."

"Despite hating Rasa for ostracizing you, his Gold Dust brought income to the village, keeping you powerless against him."

He moved closer, his breath warm against her skin. "But don't you want to change all that?" he whispered in her ear.

Pakura hesitated, knowing full well his words implied a plot against Rōran and treachery to the Land of Wind.

"What can you do to change it?" she asked hoarsely.

"Oh, I have ways," Shin continued. He gestured toward Sēramu, who stood silent and resigned nearby. "What if she sponsored Suna? No one would question a city-state in the Land of Wind supporting its own shinobi village."

"But Rōran has no money," Pakura said dryly.

Shin grinned. He had her.

"Not now, but it will, once we invest in Rōran and take control of the Ryūmyaku..."

His strategy was working perfectly.

First, he'd used the threa posed by Sasuke and others to force Sēramu to abandon her illusions and submit. Now, he was exploiting the internal tensions within Suna, pressuring Pakura to compromise and cede political interests that rightfully belonged to the Land of Wind.

He turned to her. "You've seen the strength of that Suna defector just now. Such a powerful ninja only acknowledges Rasa and not you."

"Doesn't that make you resentful?"

The reason Gaara recognized Rasa but not Pakura was simply because of the different trajectories of parallel worldlines.

Besides, he didn't even know her. By the time Gaara could remember anything, Pakura was already dead, and even during her revival in the Fourth Great Ninja War, they never crossed paths.

Unfortunately, Pakura was unaware of these truths.

"Are you willing to remain an Interim Kazekage without any real title or status?"

"Are you willing to be kicked out in a few years?"

"Are you content to become Kazekage, only to find yourself powerless, a mere puppet for others? Without our help, you can't even deal with a single defector from your own village."

"I..." Pakura's hands clenched into fists.

She found herself speechless, unable to refute his words.

Shin's twisting of facts only amplified her sense of failure from losing to Gaara moments earlier. He moved in front of her, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"Here you are, backed into a corner, but all you can think about is outsiders taking over the Ryūmyaku? Maybe your priorities need adjusting?"

"You should be more concerned about yourself, Pakura." His voice softened to an almost gentle tone. "Or do you plan to become a rogue ninja again, wandering the world in the future?"

At that moment, Pakura felt utterly defeated, like a withered grass swaying in the wind.

Even Sēramu couldn't help but avert her gaze out of pity. Of course, she had another reason for looking away—fear that her own expression of dread might be noticed.

She watched from the corner of her eye as Shin systematically dismantled the Kazekage's resolve.

By now, Sēramu fully understood: We're both trapped, aren't we, Kazekage?

When she first encountered Shin's group, she thought that Pakura was the leader. She realized how terribly wrong she was—completely and utterly wrong.

The poor Kazekage was nothing more than a pawn. At least the Kazekage still has some power to resist. What do I have?

After a long silence, broken only by the distant whisper of wind through Rōran's towers, Pakura finally spoke in a low voice.

"What do you intend to do after gaining control of the Ryūmyaku? Use its power to pillage the Land of Wind? As Kazekage, I cannot condone such actions." She met his gaze with what remained of her authority.

Her words sounded like a firm warning, but in reality, they were a concession.

Shin easily detected her retreat and smiled confidently.

"Don't be so shallow. Why is it that the only use you can think of for such a pure, convenient energy source is pillaging?" He shook his head with mock disappointment.

Just like Mukade from the original movie, who controlled the power of the Ryūmyaku to endlessly supply his puppets with energy while enslaving the local population to handcraft them—his complete lack of automation awareness had always been painful for Shin to witness.

"My goal is simple: to invest in Rōran." He gestured at the city around them. "One day, you'll see the changes here. Believe me, Pakura, the return on this investment won't disappoint you."

The Ryūmyaku represented limitless energy. To merely use it for puppet energy and repairs would be a colossal waste.

In just a split second, Shin had already envisioned numerous, more efficient uses for the Ryūmyaku.

If Sēramu wasn't exaggerating, then this place could absolutely become the industrial heart of the shinobi world in the future.

And this heart must belong to Akatsuki.

Pakura managed a faint smile. "For now, I have no choice but to trust you, don't I?"

"Don't say it like that," Shin replied gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We're allies. Tell me, when have I ever ignored your calls for help?" Every 'help' given is another chain to bind you... so why not help?

"But you always end up profiting more!"

"That's because I'm smarter." He didn't bother hiding his smugness.

Pakura was so enraged by his shamelessness that she couldn't come up with a retort.

Seeing this, Shin took it as tacit agreement and turned his attention back to Sēramu, who had been watching their exchange with barely concealed anxiety.

"The Kazekage has agreed. Let's continue leading the way."

Sēramu bowed her head in silence as she resumed guiding them. Please, let this be the right choice for Rōran.

They soon arrived at the top of the high tower, where a stone platform resembling an altar was located.

"This is the control center of the Ryūmyaku. I must stand here to control and distribute its energy, though only within the Rōran region. Beyond this range, the energy diminishes significantly, and we don't know why."

This was the fundamental reason why Rōran had always been content with its modest ambitions, never seeking expansion.

Like the mysterious forces of the Bermuda Triangle, the Ryūmyaku's behavior defied conventional understanding, though its effects remained contained within a defined geographic boundary.

"Then how does it influence time and space? Is that a fixed feature when it operates, or is it a specialized ability that needs to be activated?" He circled the platform slowly, examining every detail.

This detail was crucial. If activating the Ryūmyaku inherently caused time-space disruptions, he would have to reconsider the construction of an industrial center.

Sēramu's response, however, brought him a pleasant surprise.

"The normal operation of the Ryūmyaku doesn't affect time and space—at least, we've never seen it happen. The spatial distortions seem to occur only when the Ryūmyaku goes berserk."

"We've only witnessed such a phenomenon once, and that was last year when it went out of control, causing a man and a meteor to fall from the sky."

"A man?"

"Ah, that must be the enemy those Konoha ninjas are hunting, right? So, you and your daughter have known all along where their target is?"

Shin finally understood. This seemingly harmless mother-daughter duo had been hiding their own schemes all along.

They had known exactly what Sasuke and the others were looking for, yet they kept it a secret.

Thinking further, was Sasuke's earlier conflict with Rasa in the desert really just a coincidence? How many strings have you been pulling, Madam?

With a knowing smirk, he leaned close to Sēramu's ear, his warm breath making her tense as he kept his voice below Pakura's hearing.

"You're quite the clever one. You knew those Konoha ninjas wanted to seal the Ryūmyaku and intentionally concealed their enemy's location in Rōran, didn't you?"

"You even orchestrated events to draw Suna's forces here for your protection. Am I wrong?"

"Sēramu-sama, you wouldn't want those vicious Konoha ninjas to find out about this, would you?"

Sēramu trembled uncontrollably, drawing Pakura's attention. The woman's facade cracked completely, revealing the fear beneath.

"What are you two talking about?" Pakura stepped forward.

"Nothing," Shin replied with a disarming smile. "We were just discussing some details about the investment in Rōran, weren't we, Sēramu-sama?"

His eyes never left Sēramu's face.

The queen silently lowered her head, looking submissive. She simply reaffirmed her helplessness, resigning herself to the reality that resistance was futile.

Better to dance with a demon who wants to use us than face angels who would destroy us.

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