Chapter 249: Pakura, Kakuzu’s Woman

"Honorable Elder Genshī, Sunagakure has always respected you as a senior who survived the Warring States period and has maintained cordial relations with Kirigakure. Yet, your people have slain our envoy. We demand a proper explanation from your nation."

Genshī examined the official letter sent by the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, before handing it over to Terumi Mei beside him.

"Mei, what do you think Rasa's true intent is?"

Mei skimmed through the letter and covered her mouth with a chuckle. "As Kazekage, Rasa is desperate to improve Sunagakure's financial situation, but his methods are quite disgraceful."

"Indeed. His goal is clear. It's just like when Kumogakure attempted to seize the Byakugan by sending an envoy to the Hyūga clan to abduct the Hyūga heiress. Failure was merely a calculated risk in their scheme, their real aim is to extract benefits from the Land of Water."

"Then, Elder Genshī, should we simply ignore his unreasonable demands?"

"No!" Genshī shook his head firmly. "If we ignore Rasa's message, he'll assume we fear him. Though the Land of Water has been plagued by internal strife, we cannot allow outsiders to look down on us. Mei, do you dare to take on this mission?"

Mei's eyebrows twitched slightly, surprised by how bold this aged elder was.

"Elder Genshī, you're not planning to strike the Land of Wind head-on, are you?"

"That's exactly what I intend to do. I want those Suna shinobi to understand that Kirigakure is not to be trifled with."

Before Genshī could finish his words, the office door was suddenly flung open with a loud bang.

His brows furrowed in displeasure—who would be so rude as to enter without knocking? However, upon recognizing the intruder as one of Mei's retainers, he remained silent.

Mei, on the other hand, turned to the man with a puzzled expression.

"Ao, what's so urgent?"

"Lady Mei, Elder Genshī—bad news! Utakata has disappeared!"

Utakata—the Six-Tails Jinchūriki of Kirigakure, known for his unique bubble-based combat techniques. He had become a Jinchūriki in his teenage years and understood the burden that came with it. However, his relationship with his master had always been strained, to the point where he harbored thoughts of escaping the village—thoughts he had acted upon more than once.

"That boy… did he sneak out again?" Genshī sighed. When Utakata returned, he would have to step in and mediate between the Jinchūriki and his master. After all, a Jinchūriki leaving the village was no trivial matter.

"We don't know yet," Ao admitted, scratching his head.

Genshī rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Ao, is that all?"

"No, there's more. My scouting unit has thoroughly searched the Land of Water and confirmed that the former Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, along with the one who controlled him, has disappeared beyond our borders."

"What?!"

At nearly ninety years old, Genshī nearly jumped from his chair in shock. Yagura wasn't just their former Mizukage, he had been crucial to the village. More importantly, Yagura had been a Jinchūriki as well.

Two Jinchūriki vanishing at once—this was no coincidence.

Mei stepped forward, smiling as she locked eyes with Ao.

"Such a critical piece of information—why didn't you report it all at once?"

"I-I…"

Ao stammered, realizing his mistake.

Mei's warm smile suddenly turned chilling. "Next time, I'll kill you for it."

...

Sunagakure.

The wind howled through the vast desert, carrying with it endless streams of golden sand.

Standing atop a dune, Pakura gazed down at the village she had once loved, tears silently streaking down her cheeks.

Years ago, she had led a vanguard into the Land of Dragons, only to be captured. For the sake of her village's safety—and to relay valuable intelligence—she endured humiliation and remained in enemy hands. After two years, she was finally released.

She had expected a warm homecoming, but reality struck her like a cold slap.

Rasa's eyes were cold. "Pakura, how much information did you reveal in those two years for them to let you go?"

Pakura's heart clenched. "Kazekage-sama, I never uttered a single word. I even sent intelligence back to the village throughout those two years! The most critical piece of information—I saw it personally delivered to Sunagakure! That was when Kakuzu was at his weakest. If we had wanted revenge, that was the perfect opportunity! Didn't you receive my report?!"

Rasa turned his back on her, closing his eyes. "I never saw such intelligence."

Pakura froze.

Then, Rasa turned back, his voice laced with authority.

"From now on, you will remain confined to your home. The village has other plans for you."

Pakura felt an overwhelming sense of desolation. She knew she had been cast aside.

Yet she did not argue—because, in the end, Rasa's suspicion was understandable.

After all, she had been imprisoned by Kakuzu for two years, had suffered no physical punishment, and had returned unharmed. To outsiders, it was difficult to explain.

...

She waited in confinement until, at last, Rasa issued a new order.

She was to travel to Kirigakure to negotiate.

However, before they could even reach their destination, they were ambushed by Kirigakure's forces, led personally by Terumi Mei. The reason? Kirigakure had never received Sunagakure's diplomatic letter.

Pakura barely escaped with her life.

When she returned to Sunagakure, she was determined to confront Rasa. It was his betrayal that had doomed the mission.

Yet when she finally faced him, his expression was one of feigned shock.

"Pakura, you betrayed your comrades and leaked Sunagakure's intelligence to Kirigakure, leading to this mission's failure. You are a traitor to Sunagakure!"

A blatant accusation.

Pakura opened her mouth to protest, but then she realized—she had no solid proof to defend herself.

Rasa's words lacked evidence as well, but that didn't matter.

Because he was the Kazekage.

Unless she could produce undeniable proof, his word was law.

The rumors spread like wildfire, engulfing Sunagakure in whispers.

Pakura—the traitor.

The villagers who once admired Pakura, who saw her as the hero of Sunagakure, had now turned against her, spitting on her name. Pakura had no choice but to accept the harsh reality—public opinion could be lethal. That was why she now stood atop this sand dune, ready to end her own life.

All the great achievements she had made for her village, the countless battles she had fought, and the unwavering dedication she had shown—none of it mattered in the end. The people she had protected now despised her. Perhaps this was the greatest tragedy of all.

Chakra gathered in her hands as she activated her Scorch Release. A massive sphere of intense heat formed above her palm. There was only one thing left for her to do.

"Another one trying to prove their resolve through death?"

"Who's there?!"

The voice behind her made Pakura instantly alert. She swiftly stepped back, creating distance.

"Kakuzu?! How is it you?"

Seeing Kakuzu appear, Pakura gritted her teeth in hatred. If she recalled correctly, everything that had led to this moment began with Kakuzu's actions in the Land of Dragons.

"Fine. Even if I die today, at least I can take an enemy of the village down with me."

Pakura was ready to attack, but a sudden realization stopped her. Her movements froze for an instant as an even more pressing thought crossed her mind. She asked cautiously, "How did you know I was here?"

It seemed like a simple question, but for a shinobi, it was anything but. Even if Kakuzu had been searching for her, he should have gone to the village first. And yet, not even Sunagakure itself knew her exact location. The fact that Kakuzu had found her so easily was terrifying.

Could his intelligence-gathering skills really be that advanced?

Kakuzu casually pulled out a kunai and waved it in front of her.

"Recognize this technique?"

Pakura's eyes narrowed. The kunai bore Kakuzu's unique markings.

"Is this... Flying Thunder God?!"

Sunagakure's intelligence division had studied the abilities of shinobi from other villages, including Konoha's Anbu commander, Namikaze Minato. But Pakura had never imagined that Kakuzu would be capable of using this technique.

A terrifying thought struck her.

"You... You found me with Flying Thunder God? Does that mean you—"

Her angry expression shifted to one of alarm. Ignoring Kakuzu for the moment, she quickly scanned her body with her eyes.

"Don't bother looking. It's somewhere you can't see."

"Somewhere I can't see...?" Pakura's face instantly turned red as realization dawned on her. In that moment, she felt both humiliation and fury.

"Kakuzu, you bastard! I'll kill you!"

Seething with rage, Pakura grabbed a kunai and lunged at him. But such an attack was meaningless against Kakuzu. With a simple motion, he caught her delicate wrist effortlessly.

"Years ago, you should've already belonged to me," Kakuzu said coolly. "I kept you around because you still had some use. But after today's pathetic display, you've disappointed me. I suppose I should discipline you right here and now."

With a sudden push, Kakuzu sent Pakura tumbling down the sand dune. She let out a sharp cry as her back hit the ground.

...

Three days later.

Inside a cavern within the desert's wasteland, Pakura sat with her knees drawn to her chest, her beautiful eyes filled with resentment as she glared at Kakuzu. The man, as indifferent as ever, smoked a cigar, utterly unconcerned.

"What do I do now...?" Pakura muttered under her breath.

Kakuzu casually stood up and extinguished his cigar.

"Do whatever you want. If you still want to die, I won't stop you. A single kunai will send you straight to the Pure Land."

As he reached the cave's entrance, he glanced back at her. "Either way, I'm quite satisfied."

"You bastard!!" Pakura's fury reignited as she recalled what he had done to her. She grabbed another kunai and charged at him again, but Kakuzu caught her wrist just as easily as before.

"Hah. At least you haven't lost your fighting spirit. Since that's the case, come with me," he said with a smirk. "You are, after all, my woman. I won't let you be consumed by something as petty as despair."

Pakura wrenched her hand free, glaring at him. "Go with you? Where?!"

Kakuzu sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Shinobi are getting weaker with every generation... A shinobi is nothing more than a tool of war. If you've been wronged, then you take revenge. If you've been falsely accused, you seek justice. Why is Rasa still alive? Are you keeping him around for decoration?"

Pakura hesitated. "But... he's the Kazekage."

"Kazekage, my ass. Look at all the disgraceful things he's done. Has he truly done anything to benefit Sunagakure? If he's unfit, then replace him. And as for the lies he's spread about you, remember this—history is written by the victors."

...

A few days later.

Boom!!!

A massive explosion rocked the Kazekage's building, sending thick smoke billowing into the sky.

"What's going on?! The Kazekage's office is under attack!"

"What else? It's obvious—someone's targeting the Kazekage!"

"We have no choice. Even if there's a barrier, we have to break through!"

Sunagakure's shinobi rushed toward the Kazekage's building. When elite jounin like Baki arrived with reinforcements, they were met with an unexpected sight—Kakuzu was already seated on the steps, waiting for them.

"Leave."

With that single word, Kakuzu issued his ultimatum. It wasn't that he lacked the will to kill them—it was simply that none of them were worth killing.

The reason he was here was simple: inside the building, Pakura was fighting her own battle.

Her lost honor, the humiliation she had suffered—she was taking it back with her own hands. And Kakuzu wouldn't allow anyone to interfere.

The oppressive killing intent rolling off Kakuzu made Baki and the others break into cold sweats. No one dared to act recklessly.

The tension eased slightly when Elder Chiyo and Ebizō arrived. Though they were well aware they weren't a match for Kakuzu, they still stepped forward.

"Kakuzu, this is the second time you've made an enemy of Sunagakure," Chiyo said gravely. "Do you truly intend to force us into a fight to the death?"

"If you stand in my way, I'll stop at nothing to eliminate you. I won't let anything happen to the Kazekage!"

Kakuzu raised two fingers. "First, you already know what kind of person Rasa is. The one fighting him right now is Pakura. She's only here to reclaim her honor."

"Second, you two have lived long enough to know the truth—shinobi like you have become nothing but tools, shackled by duty. Your grandson, Sasori, sees things far more clearly than either of you."

Chiyo and Ebizō froze. The mention of their long-lost grandson shook them to their core.

As for Baki and the other Sunagakure shinobi, they were utterly stunned. The one challenging the Kazekage was none other than their former hero, Pakura?

Now they didn't know who to believe anymore.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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