"Nine o'clock direction, more enemies!"
As the corpse fell to the ground, the two Iwagakure shinobi who had been guarding it immediately retreated from the enemy at full speed.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Uchiha Hikari shifted rapidly to another position. Taking advantage of everyone's attention being distracted, she unleashed a wide-range Fire Release.
"Explosion Release."
Just as the flames were about to engulf the group, Gari, who had yet to act, seized the moment and slammed his fist onto the ground.
Chunks of earth, blown into the air by the explosion, collided with the flames, halting their advance.
"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Flow Walls."
Other Iwa shinobi took the chance to form Earth Release walls, completely blocking the flames outside.
Pakura tried to use this chance to sneak attack one of them, but before her fist could connect, Gari's swift flying kick intercepted her.
Crossing her arms to block Gari's powerful strike, Pakura flipped backward to absorb the force, landing lightly as her sharp eyes studied the famed Explosion Release shinobi before her.
"Scorch Release Pakura… I didn't expect our little squad to draw the personal attention of the Kazekage herself. Truly an honor."
Gari also studied Pakura, his expression mocking as he shifted into an attack stance.
"That was close, that was close~"
Before he finished speaking, Gari leapt up, narrowly dodging a fireball rising from below.
"A little more, and I'd have ended up like Ōiwa."
The Ōiwa he mentioned was the Iwa shinobi who had just fallen to Pakura's hands.
"There'll be another chance."
Pakura surged forward, four fireballs orbiting around her.
"Close combat? You really are underestimating me."
Gari exaggerated his tone, dodging her attacks while provoking her with words.
"Though they say to capture the king first, bringing only a Fire Release user against me is rather insulting to my teammates."
He suddenly threw a punch—but just before it landed, he forcibly retracted it.
It was a trap. Pakura had deliberately opened a gap, and a fifth fireball silently appeared where Gari had just been.
Both of them excelled in close combat, and both possessed lethal finishing moves.
"If you think you can manage it."
Pakura nearly burst out laughing.
Do you even hear yourself?
With just these weaklings you brought along, you think you can kill a Mangekyō Sharingan Uchiha?
Pathetic.
"Ah—!"
As if to confirm her thoughts, a shrill scream cut through the night. An Iwa shinobi clutched his head and collapsed.
Genjutsu.
Gari froze for a moment and was almost hit by Pakura's Scorch Release. Only his body's instinctive reaction saved him by a hair.
Impossible. Iwa shinobi are masters of teamwork—how could they be cornered by a single Fire Release user?
But screams echoed one after another. Each came from a comrade whose name Gari knew.
"Damn it—Explosion Release!"
He pounded the ground with a flurry of blows. Under the force of his Explosion Release, rocks and dirt erupted and hurtled toward Pakura.
Pakura raised her arms defensively, forming a barrier of flames.
"Got you!"
Seizing the moment when her fireballs formed a protective screen, Gari dashed in, chakra condensed into his right fist for a decisive blow.
Pakura freed one hand and swept out a stream of fire.
The flame collided with Gari's explosive chakra, creating a violent blast.
Stumbling back several steps, Gari hadn't even regained his footing when Pakura closed in with a kunai.
He instinctively twisted aside. But she had anticipated this, a cruel smile curving her lips.
"Scorch Release: Super Steam Kill."
...
As Takeshi packed up Gari's corpse, Pakura turned to Uchiha Hikari before leaving.
"Thanks for your help this time."
She made sure to express her gratitude.
"It's nothing. Just remember to send her some Sunagakure delicacies."
Watching the entire battle, Takeshi casually accepted on Hikari's behalf.
"Who asked you?"
Pakura rolled her eyes, snapping back immediately.
"Um, if it's possible…"
Uchiha Hikari raised her hand timidly, showing that Takeshi's suggestion wasn't unwelcome.
"Huh? Sunagakure specialties… fried scorpions, maybe?"
Pakura hadn't expected Hikari to truly want to taste Sunagakure cuisine. She hesitated, listing a few fearsome dishes.
"Stir-fried centipedes, butter-fried locusts…"
With each name, Hikari's pretty face grew paler, until by the end it was ghost-white.
"Has life in Sunagakure always been this harsh?"
When Pakura finally finished, Hikari forced herself to ask.
She had thought the meals she endured as a living weapon were bad enough. But compared to Sunagakure… this was brutal. Whose subordinate could live like this?
Pakura blinked, then quickly waved her hands in denial.
"You've misunderstood! I was only listing specialties. Actually, in our village we still get meat two or three times a week."
Two or three times… a week?
Even Takeshi was shocked. That's what Sunagakure fed its shinobi?
Konoha, even during the height of the ninja wars, ensured its front-line shinobi had meat at least once a day.
And Sunagakure shinobi still loyally served their village? Their dedication was remarkable.
Watching Pakura's retreating figure, Takeshi felt conflicted. Suddenly, all his scheming to make Sunagakure suffer seemed hollow and meaningless.
...
After returning to the village, Pakura immediately convened the high council.
"I've annihilated the squad led by the Explosion Release shinobi Gari on the border. Tomorrow morning, send our forces there to reclaim the commission that rightfully belongs to us."
Her words jolted the still-drowsy council members fully awake.
What did you just say?
Whose squad did you annihilate?
And now you want to take back what?
Chiyo, in particular, nearly leapt out of her seat. Pointing at Pakura, she was at a loss for words.
"Chiyo-sama, what's wrong? Weren't these the strong measures you asked me to take against Iwagakure?"
Pakura feigned ignorance, dumping all responsibility neatly at Chiyo's feet.
Chiyo's heart sank.
I told you to adopt a stronger stance, not to go and wipe them out completely!
Even if you were truly going to take action, shouldn't you at least have discussed it with us first? Mobilized our forces properly?
Now look what you've done. Iwagakure came prepared, and before we were even ready, you struck them down.
Ancestors, former Kazekage… at this rate, Sunagakure is doomed.
What made it worse was the way all the other elders now turned to stare at her.
They all thought Pakura's actions had been carried out under her advice. Their gazes were heavy with suspicion and meaning.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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